What was it like when you first started using Twitter?
Chances are you didn’t know whether to post like you do on LinkedIn, Facebook or a combination of both. You weren’t exactly sure what a hashtag was or how it worked. You had no idea how you could follow so many people (suggested to you, of course) and be followed by so few. And you wondered if 140 characters really could open the doors to communication with your favorite athletes and business idols.
But oh, how quickly things changed. (At least we’re assuming.)
After only a few logins, you understood what was worth tweeting, so you started sharing it. You added hashtags to those tweets. You began following less celebrities and gaining more legitimate followers. You became familiar with using the platform.
That’s how it happens with most social media channels. Salesforce Chatter is no different.
And so we arrive at where most sales leaders get it wrong…
Many leaders first focus on finding the value in Chatter; they try to understand how their team should use it. But let us clue you in: Your team will figure that out. Once on the platform, they’ll see that it can be used for sharing files, fostering internal relationships, sharing competitive insights and so many other valuable purposes. Then they’ll start using it according to what will bring them the most benefit.
The key is getting your team on Chatter in the first place – giving them those first few reasons to log in.
Of course, sales contests can open that door.
The best part? It only takes 3 steps to get it going:
- Build a Chatter group around any sales contest.
- Fuel your team’s competitive spirit by encouraging a little trash talking. (i.e., “Tom looks pretty comfortable at the top. You guys going to let him stay there?”)
- Provide contest-related recognition to top if off.
If you’d like an example, check out how Agility Communications Group used competition to achieve Chatter adoption.
Coinciding Chatter introductions with upcoming events can do the job, too.
What’s the next event that your company will be part of? Create a Chatter group around it.
Groups like this offer a great introduction to Chatter, because they add more value than simply introducing your team to the platform. They’ll keep your team on top of their upcoming event, too.
The key here is to stay away from other methods of communication as often as possible when sharing information on the event. The moment you send an email to inform on a new conference start time or updated attendee list, the group will lose its value.
And then there’s the interdepartmental sharing Chatter offers.
How many times does your sales team ask marketing to send them the same copy of the same case study they were already emailed? That’s because rather than searching through emails for final copies, it’s easier to send a quick note and have someone send back the content needed, bringing it right to the top of the inbox.
Until you have Chatter, that is.
Ask your marketing leader to create a “Marketing Content” group on Chatter that’s accessible to the entire company. Every completed marketing file should go in there. Then when team members ask for a case study or logo or brochure, they should always be directed straight to that Chatter group. (The same best practice applies here as with event groups: Make this your one place for these types of communications.)
If you’d like more details on these suggestions, along with other best practices for Chatter adoption, check out our free eBook: Sales Team, Meet Chatter: 4 Routes to Adoption.
At the least, keep in mind this key takeaway: Sales contests, events and interdepartmental sharing all offer great ways to introduce your team members to Chatter, so they can begin discovering its value. Then they’ll be on their way to the new forms of collaboration and recognition that adoption brings. You just have to get them in the door first.
