Social Watch:Trends to Look Out For

All of the articles I came across listed similar trends related to social networking to look out for in the year 2010 and beyond.

For the most part, the ideas were the same: Social media is growing! yes. The audience is in control! duh.

There were two trends, though, that really caught my eye.

Trend one.

To the marketing team:

Have you considered creating a Social Media Protocol? A policy that sets "rules of engagement" for multiple networking sites. This is a trend that will soon be implemented at your company, if it hasn't been already. It'll probably look a little something like this:

1. Don't be mean to our followers, friends, or foes - it just makes us look immature

2. Don't curse and definitely DON'T TYPE IN ALL CAPS. It offends some people..unless of course you're being nice like, "THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT JENNY! WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT! In which case you should add a smiley face because, well, it looks nice. ;)

3. Don't be an idiot.

Trend two.

To the Corporations:

Try as you might, it is harder than ever before to control your employees. The reason being because social media is now able to reach behind corporate firewalls. I had some no idea that 70 percent of organizations ban social networks. SEVENTY!? With the rise in sales of smartphones, employees are now taking their social networking off their computers and on to their iPhones.

But, there is a solution: take their cell phones away. It's easy and it works! Just put a little bin at the entrance of the building where cell phones and any other distractions go. But I can't take all the credit for this wonderful solution. I got the idea from a sorority. Not really a corporation, more like kindergarten- except you have to pay for it.

Kudos to me.