The usefulness and ubiquity of social media have made the Internet an unavoidable part of business strategy these days. If you decide dive into social networking as a company, you are going to open eyes across your office, especially if you have had the web on lockdown.

That’s where a healthy and well-thought social media policy comes in.

Diving into the deep end of social media strategy means learning how to swim as a company. That involves so many factors that don’t come with easy answers.

You want to set the right guidelines for everyone in your organization engages with the web, which means the conversation will extend out of the HR office, into the world of marketing, public relations, legal and customer service.

And the conversations won’t just be about setting up a Twitter account or accessing Facebook, but will involve productivity, privacy, conversations with customers and so much more.

Can you Google œsocial media policy and find dozens of them online? Sure. But do you really want to stake your future with the world’s greatest information-gathering machine with a quick case of search-and-replace?

That’s why, instead of opening the doors for a session of Social Media 101, I pitched my firm on the idea of a seminar with a much narrower approach  just social media policy.

Is it insurance for making sure that your company is putting its best face forward (and not whatever and whoever may be on Facebook)? Sure, but once the conversation about using the web in all of its facets begins, it will bring a change in mindset and orientation.

That’s just some of what we’ll be talking about on Nov. 10 in Oklahoma City and Nov. 17 in Tulsa.

For information, go to Schnake Turnbo Frank Public Relations’ web site “www.stfpr.com“ and check out the info.

Need to know anything else? Follow me on Twitter at @mkokc.

A little over three years ago I became a volunteer for an organization that has changed my life.  Heartline Oklahoma provides a variety of different services from suicide prevention, 2-1-1, the CareLine, and the Volunteer Center.  Since 1971, Heartline has connected Oklahomans 24 hours a day with over 100 volunteers.

The Carnival of Hope features bloggers who are also passionate about Heartline and the great services they provide thousands of Oklahomans.  As the Ring Master I am happy introduce our featured acts for the first ever Carnival of Hope!

Shauna Moerke, also known as the HR Minion starts the Carnival off with a touching post, Carnival with a Cause. Shauna, a resident of Minnesota, is a Human Resource innovator in the social media realm.

Brent Buxton, owner of Oklahoma based, Oklahoma Security Systems follows up with a blog post focusing on the Power of Hope.

Sharlyn Lauby, known as the HR Bartender mixes it up and discusses the importance of attendance and punctuality which is certainly important when arriving on time to the upcoming Festival of Hope Gala on August 28th.  Sharlyn is another Heartline supporter promoting from far away Florida.

And for a strong finish Oklahoma City’s Social Media Director, Mike Koehler brags about Heartline. Mike is one of OKC’s Social Media elite.  I recommend that aspiring businesses and social media enthusiasts should follow Mike.

The upcoming Festival of Hope on Friday, August 28, 2009 from 6:00-9:30 p.m at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK.  Tickets are $125 a person.  Thanks to all our supporters, kind comments, and bloggers who sent well-wishes and helped promote Heartline’s Festival of Hope.  I look forward to seeing you on August 28th.

And don’t forget to follow Heartline on Twitter.

**If you are a blogger who wants to participate in this or future carnivals, please email me directly at jessica@xceptionalhr.com.

Earlier today, Schnake Turnbo Frank, a public relations first based in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma announced their new social media director via youtube. Their new SM Director, Mike Koehler who is a fellow blogger, tweeter, and friend will lead STF’s Social Media division. Koehler and STF will provide public relations consulting and social media solutions. I’m proud of Mike and am excited that social media is beginning to get the respect it deserves. SM is here to stay and STF’s announcement will be followed by many others as businesses look to gain a competitive marketing advantage using social media in their business marketing and public relations.

Congratulations, Mike!