1. Social media is a channel. It is a collection of channels, really—but one that is not unlike traditional interaction channels. As in traditional channels, customer experience consistency is key. What that means is that, just as with traditional channels, social media needs to be woven into a unified customer engagement process.
2. Social media is not a silo. The enablement of that single voice and unified brand experience—and the resultant ROI—requires true cross-functional ownership of social initiatives.
3. Social media requires a social mindset. The core tenet of this mindset is transparency. The level of organizational transparency will dictate to a large degree not only the level of social adoption but also which types of social engagement fit into which parts of the organization.