We are increasingly being approached by financial companies or organisations who are interested in how they can use social media as part of their financial communications messaging.

One of the services we offer in this area is social media audits to carry out research into the conversations that are taking place around companies, and to identify the issues that could impact upon their reputation and standing in the markets. Audits, for example, can be used pre and post AGMs; in the run up to and after key results announcements and as a way of keeping in touch with how influencers in the market are reacting to an organisation’s business developments. Audits help communications professionals to understand how they can use social networks and social tools to understand and engage with key stakeholders, fans and critics before others take ownership of the conversation.

Phil Davis, who used to be a staff journalist for The Financial Times will be helping us assess the data we unearth during specific social media audits. Phil now freelances for the FT and the Economist Group and also writes for the British Airways First Class magazine. He will help us test the credibility of blogs and other social network sites  which are commenting on the activities of a company, and will provide his own insights based on the conversations taking place.

We believe that audit research tools require the involvement of social media experts and industry experts in order to deliver real value to the companies who are keen to understand more about how they and their brands are being affected by social media. If you are interested to know more about our social media audits please get in touch to see how we could help you.

The David Hone climate change blog - which we are working on with our partners, Headshift, has been entered for a  2009 Forrester Groundswell Award. David  Hone serves as the senior climate change advisor for Shell and is vice chairman of the International Emissions Trading Association.

To date, David Hone’s blog has covered a broad range of topics ranging from electric cars to global carbon trading. The blog has featured a wide variety of content, including a video interview with high profile environmental authors such as James Lovelock — author of The Vanishing Face of Gaia, and a personal diary sharing stunning photographs of a recent trip to the Antarctic. The content has so far been syndicated on about 14 other climate change blogs, contributing to debates and online conversations.

From the outset, David Hone’s blog has focused clearly on the practical side of implementing climate change policies. The blog is lightly moderated and all contributors are informed of the house policy. It has attracted a range of comments and is taking Shell into a more open and personal conversation with its key online audiences.

Read more about our entry here.

If you would like to read David Hone’s blog, please go here.

Here’s an interesting case study/interview with EMC about how they have used social media to grow the business. They have even used career fairs at Second Life – and they work!

Full interview/case study is here.

Any doubts about whether or not social media is a trend or a permanent shift? I recommend you watch this short video which is packed with useful statistics.