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Personalized Service: Using Social Media to Showcase the People Behind the Brand
September 27, 2011Last week, I spoke at FOHBOH’s FoodServices Social Media Universe conference about implementing social media policies for employees. The restaurant industry has a uniquely positive energy towards both its customers and its employees. While many industries think about reaching customers through social media, the restaurant industry is ahead of the curve in its desire to embrace the concept of employees as brand ambassadors. Indeed, we all know that business relationships are built on trust and confidence. Social media presents a unique opportunity for the customer not only to know the brand but also to know the people behind the brand.
Read More...A Modest Proposal: How to Have a Social Media Policy and Keep Your Employees Happy
September 12, 2011Last week, the NLRB issued its first ruling concerning social media posts and employee terminations. An administrative law judge ordered the non-profit agency Hispanics United of Buffalo (HUB) to restore the jobs of five workers with backpay. The five workers had engaged in a conversation on Facebook during off hours, defending their job performance after hearing a coworker’s criticisms. HUB fired them, asserting that their Facebook comments constituted harassment of the co-worker and violated HUBS’ anti-harassment policy.
Read More...Batteries and Flashlights Insufficient: Compliance with the Hurricane of Privacy Legislation
September 6, 2011As summer drew to a close, Eastern seacoast residents scurried to secure their homes with batteries and flashlights as Hurricane Irene approached. We are in the midst of another storm: a legislative storm related to consumer privacy and data breach. Businesses need to adapt a proactive approach. They need to have all their supplies on hand well in advance so they can comply with the onslaught of impending legislation without compromising their legal status and creating a public relations nightmare.
Read More...Five Common Legal Errors in Running Twitter Promotions
August 16, 2011Twitter sweepstakes and contests abound, along with several common mistakes. Below are five areas that require attention to avoid legal risk.
Read More...Four Trends in Prize Promotions on Social Media and Mobile Platforms
August 2, 2011In my webinar last month, I identified four trends in the evolution of prize promotions on social media and mobile platforms.
Read More...Lessons Learned from a Social Media Specialist’s Firing
July 26, 2011Last month, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Center (LVEDC) in Pennsylvania fired a social media “specialist” after she posted the following Tweet: “We start summer hours today. That means most of the staff leave at noon, many to hit the links. Do you observe summer hours? What do you do?” It seems that the specialist was using social media correctly to try to engage followers in a conversation. On the other hand, the tweet led some followers to question if Friday golf was appropriate for an organization funded at least partially by tax dollars.
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