4 Reasons why Social Media Strategy should be part of our Enterprise Resource Process (ERP)

Every organisation has got different operating systems. For a manufacturing business you have the planning, purchasing, inventory, production, warehousing, delivery, sales, accounting, human resources, public relations etc.  With the aid of information technology it became possible to streamline processes and integrate them whilst automating some activities. Technology world has termed this the Enterprise Resource Process. An automated environment aids organisations to be effective and efficient. The quest for better effectiveness and more efficiency, which are driven by a better bottom line without compromising quality; are the reasons we keep developing improved software. This has also led to Mobile Applications that have popularized Social Media and can be integrated with our main stream business processes. Below are four reasons why a Social Media Strategy should be incorporated into any Enterprise Resource Process.

1. A Social Media Strategy can be aimed at both internal and external communities. Whilst content marketing targets external followers, internal communications can also be enhanced through Social Media Forums. Almost everyone in the working class has some form of visibility in the Social Media Forums. A loyal internal community is an attractive environment for positive communication. Above that when our internal stake holders rave about us, they become part of the whirlpool that draws followers into our Social Media Forums including positioning us positively on Search Engine Optimization.

2. Back office and front office communication can be automated so that delivery, confirmation of receipt and response can all be in real time.  Most ERP software include automated communication. But having internal and external communication embedded in Social Media activities will improve the communication process. Information is relevant when it is delivered and acted upon on timely. Some of our clients do not pay on agreed time intervals and claim not to have received invoices on time. If we are able to twit and share pictures in real time, so can we share business information and records on time - of cause with a little innovation.

3. Content Marketing is all about telling our story. In ERP processes is embedded our story that needs to be heard by both internal and external stakeholders. How we perform our various functions defines who we are and shapes our values. This uniqueness in our operations is the content that we want to share with our followers in order to gain their loyalty.

4. In order for our ERP process to remain relevant in this ever changing environment, it has to be continuously reviewed. There is no better way to improve what we are doing than to be given ideas by our stakeholders. All our processes are meant to impress our stakeholders. Our shareholders want us to have better profits, our employees want better care whilst our customers want a better service. A Social Media Strategy that meets its obligations, can provide the best platform to gather recommendations.

If you are planning on a Social Media Strategy, we can help you with its formulation all the way up to implementation. We can also review your current activities and help you to make them meet your organisational goals. Don't forget to share the article so that others may have this valuable information.

Content Marketing for a Large Corporation

Content marketing is easier for a small enterprise especial if its a one man band. For a consultant or a  life coach operating as an individual or with a small staff complement, it is quite easy to articulate the product offering as the first person, and appeal engagement with your targeted audience. However for a large corporation that has got many departments, this might be a little challenging. Challenging but not impossible. Some corporations hire Social Media Managers who play the role similar to that of Public Relations though with a bias towards marketing. Others completely outsource the Social Media activities. Both on these instances, the communication is diluted as it is not coming out of the first person and diluted content does not attract dialogue, although campaigns in the form of competitions would still make an impact.

Content marketing is premised on consistent communicating with a view to educate rather than make a sale. A sale is achieved after the prospective client has had enough information about the offer and even engaged for clarification. This has been stimulated by online commerce, which is being promoted by mobility. An informed client is able to also recommend to their peers or those that they influence. It is critical to follow anyone on Social Media Forums who yields influence over your potential market. Your promotional material can be shared in other forums where you may not have a presence as an organisation. This is the other advantage with content marketing.

The marketing department may not have the capacity to disseminate enough content about activities of a large cooperation. An effective Content Marketing Strategy would not be effective if it solely relies on the marketing department for its implementation. This is where Enterprise Resource System comes to the picture. An ERP system brings together back office and front office activities with a purpose to streamline activities and synergize resources. Information shared within the organisation, through the ERP System, can be edited to form part of our Content Marketing offering. Our clients would love to know how we operate differently from competitors. An insight into what differentiates us, can win us more customers. With Content Marketing, an organisation, can not involve its clients in deliberations that may jeopardize trade secrets or other sensitive information. But through the ERP System, an organisation can share relevant information with clients and the information would be best shared directly from  the various departments as it will be practical, attractive and on real time. For our targeted audience to follow us and rave about us, this information must be shared consistently and where there is engagement, we should be able to respond timeously.