Comments on: Biotech and Social Media, Part I http://comprendia.com/2008/08/22/biotech-and-social-media-part1/ Communicating the Business of Science Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:25:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ruby Gadelrab http://comprendia.com/2008/08/22/biotech-and-social-media-part1/comment-page-1/#comment-18670 Ruby Gadelrab Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:58:15 +0000 http://comprendiagroup.com/?p=4811#comment-18670 Great article, do you think this has changed much since you wrote it? I am particularly interested in your views on Facebook and twitter. I think the relevance of facebook for biotech is growing exponentially, the number of relevant groups are on the rise with thousands of fans/friends. Also twitter for scientists is becoming much more relevant - its becoming a great platform for sharing papers, findings and testing theories. Would love to hear your views. Great article, do you think this has changed much since you wrote it? I am particularly interested in your views on Facebook and twitter. I think the relevance of facebook for biotech is growing exponentially, the number of relevant groups are on the rise with thousands of fans/friends. Also twitter for scientists is becoming much more relevant – its becoming a great platform for sharing papers, findings and testing theories. Would love to hear your views.

]]> By: Christoph Weber http://comprendia.com/2008/08/22/biotech-and-social-media-part1/comment-page-1/#comment-619 Christoph Weber Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:17:26 +0000 http://comprendiagroup.com/?p=4811#comment-619 This is a very timely article, and as you state, the Biotech sector is really late to the party. I see two avenues to pursue for businesses, and two issues companies must be aware of: Social media starts "at home", on your own website. Add one or more blogs and give your site that personal touch. Not only do blogs help retain site visitors, they also transform your site from plain old (and boring) brochureware into an engaging destination. You also might consider allowing visitor comments in some areas or articles of your site. If you want to go all out, you can envisage a transformation of your support area from a "one way street" to an interactive site where your customers contribute insight, help each other, and everyone wins. Then, as a second step, you can add a presence on the various social sites out there. Which leads me to the potential issues: Social media are based on trust. If you intend to use social media as a business tool you have to keep this in mind at all times. Abuse people's trust just once (even if you didn't intend to, they might still perceive it that way) and everyone will leave in a hurry. There are plenty of other options available to them on thw world wide web, and if they choose to associate with you it is on their terms, not yours. So keep utmost integrity in everything you do in the social media sphere. Social media users are also fickle and your social media endeavors require constant attention. If you aren't prepared to update your blog on a regular basis over the long haul, maybe you shouldn't start it or at least not call it a blog. Anyway, thanks for a great article Mary! I'll be looking forward to your next one. Christoph This is a very timely article, and as you state, the Biotech sector is really late to the party. I see two avenues to pursue for businesses, and two issues companies must be aware of:

Social media starts “at home”, on your own website. Add one or more blogs and give your site that personal touch. Not only do blogs help retain site visitors, they also transform your site from plain old (and boring) brochureware into an engaging destination. You also might consider allowing visitor comments in some areas or articles of your site. If you want to go all out, you can envisage a transformation of your support area from a “one way street” to an interactive site where your customers contribute insight, help each other, and everyone wins.

Then, as a second step, you can add a presence on the various social sites out there. Which leads me to the potential issues:

Social media are based on trust. If you intend to use social media as a business tool you have to keep this in mind at all times. Abuse people’s trust just once (even if you didn’t intend to, they might still perceive it that way) and everyone will leave in a hurry. There are plenty of other options available to them on thw world wide web, and if they choose to associate with you it is on their terms, not yours. So keep utmost integrity in everything you do in the social media sphere.

Social media users are also fickle and your social media endeavors require constant attention. If you aren’t prepared to update your blog on a regular basis over the long haul, maybe you shouldn’t start it or at least not call it a blog.

Anyway, thanks for a great article Mary! I’ll be looking forward to your next one.

Christoph

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