@(insert company name here)CEO is pondering what to eat for dinner tonight…

Ok, ok so this is probably not what most consumers want to be hearing from the CEOs of the brands they buy, but it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be on Twitter.

CEOs and the brands they represent, in my opinion, deserve and ought to be on Twitter.  Twitter, and other social media platforms, provide an opportunity to build a two-way relationship between brands and the customers they serve based on honesty and transparency.  Having sat in on a recent Bulldog Reporter audio conference on the subject I think it is not only important to have a CEO who can deliver company messaging and interact with consumers and employees online; it is equally important to have an ongoing commitment to remaining active and available via social media.  In the implementation of Twitter or other social media programs it is essential to have a clear goal and to understand that social media is not a one-off.  Social media initiatives, such as CEO Twitter accounts, don’t work without a long-term commitment to the effort.

The Forbes piece includes some best practices from companies who are doing it right.  Definitely worth the read.

-Andrea