As business people we can’t have missed the rise of Social Media in recent years. What’s often harder to grasp is how can, or should, we harness these new forms of communication for our own businesses. Social Media and the Dales If we look at how businesses in our own Dales area have adopted and used Social Media we will find pockets of usage here and there - with tourism focused businesses the most visible and obvious users. This is understandable as the tourism proposition and it’s audience are well defined and simple to reach. What can feel less clear is how other types of businesses can benefit. With the upcoming launch of a range of new online services - linked to real-life Businesses and Business Associations - we have a new opportunity to reach out and connect across our region....

We've written before about our work for colourful character the Purpleman of York. Recently Purpleman has been the centre of some regional media attention after first the threat of and subsequent carrying out of an attack on him as he performed in York. New Tools, New Bullies Seemingly on the back of the recent unrest/rioting in the UK, an individual started a Facebook page: "... entitled “Using-riots-as-an-excuse-2-push-tht-****in-purple-man-off-his-bike-in-York,’ which by yesterday afternoon was “liked” by more than 400 people." via: http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9194402.Violence_threat_to_York_street_performer...

Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) have published a new guide to social networking in the workplace: ACAS guide to social networking in the workplace
Sections include:

• Managing performance
• Recruitment
• Discipline and grievances
• Bullying
• Defamation, data protection and privacy

Most readers will find the advice is based on sound common sense. The guide on how to develop a policy of your own will be useful for organisations looking to put their own policy in place.

Found via: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/07/acas_publishes_first_social_media_guide/