Using Social Media

With the social media being as demanding and popular as it is today, most large companies are jumping on the band waggon and beginning to use these sites to their advantage. By using these sights, companies are doing many many great things…

1. They are constantly reaching and staying in contact with their customers, employees, stakeholders, etc., and providing us with the information that we want to hear.
2. They are also able to compete with their competitors who are also using these sites

…This list goes on. So the real question is why NOT use social media? If your company isn’t using it you aren’t keeping up with the trends of society. You are being foolish not to use it.

We aren’t living in the ice age anymore people!!






Johnson & Johnson and their use of the social media…

When doing further research on Johnson & Johnson and their use of social media, I found that they are utilizing it to their advantage.

-RSS

To help you stay informed about the latest news from the company, Johnson & Johnson provides an RSS feed of the press releases and statements posted to their site. The most recent press release issued by Johnson & Johnson was on February 9, 2010 (4 days ago) explaining PREZISTA®, which was recently approved in Canada. The release helps us stay informed with what they are most recently involved with so we can follow them and stay up to date on their accomplishments.


-Podcasts

Johnson & Johnson also provides you with the ability to receive e-mail alerts from the Investors section of their site. You can listen to a podcast of investor events which could be found on the Webcasts/Presentations page.


-Youtube


Johnson & Johnson is using Youtube to their advantage by displaying footage of them working with partners such as AmeriCares and MAP International, helping to provide much needed relief and medical supplies to the victims of Haiti. Keeping your publics updated on current issues and events is very important. The earthquake in Haiti is one of the most talked about topics around the world right now, so by Johnson & Johnson showing us that they are involved with the relief effort is very smart. America today is very interested in the companies that are working alongside them, helping out with the environment and with the current issues. Therefore, Johnson & Johnson is doing the right thing by being so involved. This shows us that they care about the latest activities going on around the world and that they are will to help out when needed.


Johnson & Johnson has videos on their website providing us with the efforts they are making towards the crisis in Haiti. They also have videos explaining their credo values and what they stand for as a company. This helps us see what their main goals are and that they want to do whatever possible to put their publics health and well being first.


I was really impressed when I signed onto my LinkedIn account and saw that Johnson & Johnson were a part of it. LinkedIn, in my opinion, is one of the most important social media tools today. Almost anyone in the professional world, as well as college students are part of LinkedIn. By utilizing this tool, Johnson & Johnson are able to display a brief description of themselves which allows people to see who they really are as a company and to understand their main functioning purpose. They are also able to display all the great employees they have, while they can also search for new employees. New employees adds to a larger Johnson & Johnson Family, bringing in news ideas and providing them with a stronger reputation than they already have.


A work in progress…


I would say that Johnson & Johnson is going in the right direction with their use of social media, however I feel that they could still use it more. When people think of social media today the first 2 examples that come to mind are Facebook and Twitter. When first looking for Johnson & Johnson on these 2 social media websites I couldn't locate them on either and I was disappointed. I was very close to becoming discouraged and not searching any further, however after a while I was able to find them. If I were hired as their new, young and very “up to the latest trends” PR representative, the first thing I would do is make Johnson & Johnson more easily found on both Twitter and Facebook, because if these 2 sites are utilized in the right way they could be extremely useful.


With Twittter, Johnson & Johnson is able to keep their publics and fans up to date not only daily, but hourly, if needed. They put the most up to date information on it always keeping key audiences informed. What I would really focus on would be their involvement in the Haiti relief program or with the introduction of new products or even employees. Twitter is also good to have when faced with a crisis. This way they would be able to keep their publics up to date on all the information regarding the crisis. Twitter is a good way to show that your company is not only up to date on “new media” but they they are also willing to share information with you in regards to what is going on with the company. It is the best way for people to follow you in every step forward that you make. http://twitter.com/JNJComm


Johnson & Johnson uses Facebook to showcase events that they will be holding, or also just to keep their publics informed with their newest information. By having the ability to “friend” a company, you feel more connected with them and this allows you to feel as though they are working alongside you. This gives Johnson & Johnson a more young and fun appeal. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnson-Johnson-Network/126297030950?ref=mf


We know that Johnson & Johnson has a great reputation and that they are doing tremendous things for the environment and for the people of the world, yet sometimes we need to be reminded of this information & social networks and media are the best ways to do this.


We live in a society today that we need to feel “connected” to the world 24/7. Social media fills this void. Johnson & Johnson has done a really important thing by jumping on the band wagon and using social media, yet I feel as though they could still be a little more creative with it. Johnson & Johnson didn't find me on the social media networks, I had to find it...