Does Indian Inc understand social media?

Social media has become a fad. Everybody wants to be seen out there, listen to what everybody else is saying. Same is the case with Indian Inc. Not having a facebook or twitter profile seem similar to committing a ‘harakiri’.
Most head honcos or marketing heads of consumer driven enterprises when asked about their exposure to social media typically have this to say: “….Oh we do social media. We have a profile on facebook, twitter……..” However their journey into the social media world gets abruptly halted once they get a decent fanbase.
Looks like Indian Inc have not understood the power that social network tools command. A mere presence on facebook or twitter seems to suffice for most. Engagement with customers is usually limited to a one-way news bombardment or responding to audience or running a poll.
Engagement and outreach is much more than this. Try innovative means to engage with your community and treat them with the same respect that you would offer a customer who walks into your store. For if your community members do not like what you dish out for them, they will run away and never return.
My advice to all those who have created a present on any social media platform –do not take your community for granted. Do you think a trainee you hired the other day or your PA can do this job. Think again! Hire a social media expert even if you do not see immediate returns coming your way and invest in your future community.

Facebook Valuations: Cloud computing gone amok!

Haven't written anything much for a very long time. My job seem to be keeping me too busy, leaving me no time for "being social,..." not an apt excuse for being just lazy.

However the news on facebook valuation has jerked me up from a deep slumber. Facebook valued at $65 billion..., a whopping jump of 30% from its previous valuation, just a month ago (in January).

Wonder if the Investment firm General Atlantic has overvalued the firm's equitable value or is it a case of cloud computing gone amok.

According to news reports General Atlantic is purchasing a block of roughly 2.5 million Facebook shares from former Facebook employees, giving the firm a 0.1 per cent stake in the company.

In January, Facebook said it had raised $1.5 billion from investors including Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky Technologies, as well as through a private offering to overseas investors conducted by Goldman Sachs, at a valuation of roughly $50 billion.

Well I am still waiting to know the money spinning business model that both the social media bigwigs-- Facebook or for that matter Twitter are looking at adopting going forward.

For the moment, I am busy thinking about the number of zeros that Mark Zuckerberg can add to his already balooning networth if he decides to go public (an IPO).

For now I am thinking of creating a social network titled "the Valuation Game." Join me in my endeavour!