Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Tweeting CEO's Held in High Regard

by Ashley Haugen
@AshleyKaia

It may be time for community managers to give their duties to the boss for a day. Ok, so maybe not all of their duties, but at least show them this article from eMarketer. According to a study by social media branding firm BRANDfog (who's motto is, 'if you're not online you don't exist'), consumers and employees regard company leaders who engage on social media platforms positively.

A whopping 78% of survey respondents said that CEO participation in social media leads to better communication, 71% believes it leads to improved brand image and 64% said it provides more transparency. 

A company’s social media presence also trickles down and influences purchase decisions. The majority of BRANDfog survey respondents (77%) are more likely or much more likely to buy from a company whose CEO uses social media to clearly define company values and leadership principles. And 94% said C-suite social media participation enhances a brand image.


CEO activity on social networks doesn't just effect consumer perception, but it also makes an impact on employees. The study finds that 82% of employee respondents trust a company more when the CEO and leadership team communicate via social media.

Having CEO and CMO's actively engaging on social networks not only instills confidence in consumers, but also in employees. After all, it is the age of the social network and what better way to show that your company is heading in the right direction, than your boss showing everyone he/she is "in the know." 

Do you follow any company CEO's on Twitter? What do you expect from their social media presence?