Key Takeaways
- Social media platforms can be effectively utilized by business leaders to keep their networks informed, amplify important developments, and connect with a broader audience.
- Social media engagement can provide valuable insights into customer concerns, strengthen relationships, and help businesses stay competitive.
- Effective social media usage requires a balance between professional and personal life, seeking professional guidance, and maintaining authenticity and transparency in interactions.
Social Media as a Professional Tool: Laurent Vimont’s Perspective
In the realm of business, social media has emerged as a powerful tool, shaping communication strategies and connecting leaders with their audiences. Laurent Vimont, the CEO of Century 21 France, offers valuable insights into the effective use of social media platforms by business leaders.
Vimont believes in leveraging personal social media accounts to keep his network informed about Century 21 France’s activities, press relations, and conference outcomes. He shares company achievements, such as securing the top spot in the HCG Trophy for service quality for the third time.
Social media serves as an amplifier for Vimont, enabling him to alert his network, advisors, assistants, and consumers about important developments. However, he maintains clear boundaries between his professional, personal, and private spheres.
The Significance of Social Media for Business Leaders
According to Vimont, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether business leaders should be active on social media. He recognizes that some leaders, especially those involved in commercial activities, find it natural to engage on these platforms.
However, he cautions that leaders in sensitive industries or B2B businesses may not necessarily benefit from social media exposure. For leaders with direct customer interaction, he emphasizes the importance of using social media for two key reasons: they remain the best ambassadors for their brand, and they need to set an exemplary model for their employees.
If leaders are reluctant to be in the spotlight, Vimont suggests they avoid social media altogether. On the other hand, if they want their employees to embrace these tools, their exemplary actions can drive engagement and enthusiasm.
The Benefits of Social Media for Businesses
Vimont views social media as a treasure trove of powerful tools for businesses. He highlights the fact that these tools are free and accessible, encouraging experimentation and learning. He shares his own experience of proactively addressing customer concerns on Twitter before Century 21 France’s community manager can.
For Vimont, engaging with customers on social media is an integral part of his daily routine. He believes that businesses can access valuable insights, strengthen customer relationships, and stay ahead of the competition by actively participating in online conversations.
Time Management and Social Media: Striking a Balance
Vimont acknowledges the time constraints that many leaders face, but he believes that time is not an excuse for neglecting social media. He insists that with determination, one can find the time to engage effectively.
Vimont admits that his multitasking abilities sometimes lead to personal sacrifices, such as being overly engaged at home. To address this, he has implemented a strategy of keeping his phones away for two hours when he returns home, allowing him to fully disconnect and recharge.
The Importance of Professional Guidance
Vimont strongly recommends seeking professional guidance when using social media. He emphasizes the need to understand best practices and ensure that posts and tweets align with ethical standards. He advises spending time observing what works, what resonates with the audience, and how to navigate comments effectively.
He suggests working with a social media expert for the initial 20 to 40 tweets or posts to gain a solid foundation. He also highlights the differences between platforms like Facebook and Twitter, emphasizing the more intuitive and personal nature of Facebook.
Vimont stresses the importance of staying connected to social media, recommending keeping a computer screen divided into two sections: one for Facebook and Twitter, and the other for emails. He reiterates the value of professional guidance, as mistakes on social media can be costly for businesses with a strong reputation.
Social Media as a Catalyst for Business and Personal Leadership
Vimont recognizes the potential of social media as a driver of business growth and personal leadership. He points out that Facebook now enables Century 21 agencies to make direct sales through targeted advertising campaigns, breaking away from traditional real estate portal models.
This direct engagement with consumers through social media has strengthened communication and provided valuable insights for sales teams. On the personal leadership front, Vimont believes that social media can amplify a leader’s influence and connect them with a broader audience.
He acknowledges that not all leaders may find social media to be their strongest leadership tool, but he emphasizes the importance of authenticity and transparency. He shares his own practice of carefully considering his tweets, often deleting up to half of them before posting.
Vimont views social media as a powerful platform for interaction and engagement, allowing leaders to engage in meaningful conversations with their audiences. He cautions against buying followers and instead emphasizes the value of genuine engagement and the number of verified accounts that follow and retweet.
Bonus: Social media has become an integral part of modern business and leadership strategies. By embracing these platforms effectively, leaders can connect with their audiences, drive business growth, and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industries.
The key to success in the realm of social media lies in authenticity, transparency, and a commitment to engaging with the audience in a meaningful way. As Laurent Vimont demonstrates, social media can be a powerful tool for business leaders who are willing to invest the time and effort to master its nuances.
Leave a Reply