The above title is a little misleading, as you will find out. If you haven’t seen the Public Relations Society of America’s post Status Update: Millennial Staffers Can Update Your Social Media Plan you need to go there and read it. Like now. Because it’s ridiculous and you may need a good laugh tonight. What the heck, any time is a good time for a laugh. Only I wish we weren’t having to laugh about this. It’s plain silly.
Like this post, the title of PRSA’s post is misleading as well. The author may have meant well but he actually came across as offensive to lots of Millennials. He suggests that companies look to their Millennials to help build their company’s, as well as their senior staffers’, online presence. But he says things like this: Tapping on these new professionals may seem like a gamble. You don’t want them speaking to clients, let alone producing messaging. However, to increase your organization’s toolbox and capture the attention of younger staffers eager to get ahead, the social media space is an ideal testing ground.
What, what?!?!?
Not only is this offensive to Millennials, it’s offensive to those of us who are a bit older. However, because of the assumptions made–both that Millennials are Social Media pros and also that they are incompetent to deal with clients, Millennials took the brunt of the offense. Social Media is not about “testing things out.” A successful social media campaign requires some strategy and planning. Also, it should be representative of your company, it should be about branding. You should kinda have some idea of what you want your company to be online — that’s not something you can delegate to someone you don’t feel safe with speaking to your clients.
Read the PRSA post and the great comments that follow it. But let me just say this, if you want an online presence for your company make sure you learn a thing or two about social media, why you want an online presence, and how you want the company to be presented online. Then find the best qualified person (yes, sometimes even people way past their 20s, like me, know their way around a social network) to do the job. Don’t just assume your Millennial employee is the best person, although, they very well may be. Remember what they say about assumptions.