Engineering Firms and Social Media

Until recently, engineering lagged behind most industries regarding social media use. Because it is a technical field, some firms are starting to see the value.

In 2009 a survey was released on social media and mobile devices to 750 civil engineering firms. Fifty-one percent of participants said they use LinkedIn; 30% said they Facebook to promote their business; and 20% use Twitter or blogs. Those usages have increased.

“Engineering firms can take advantage of social computing tools for knowledge management, expertise sharing and information retention, which is especially critical with the pending retirement of baby boomers and incoming millennial generation,” said Brian Zeve, managing director, Microsoft Professional Services Industry.

Zeve also notes that web-based collaboration through wikis, blogs, and other content management tools can provide firms with a whole new way of architecting knowledge and enabling input.

In other words, social media platforms have become a new way of not only networking, but learning for engineers. However when it comes to social media marketing, engagement means everything. It can virtually make or break your chances for success. You can check out here how to buy TikTok likes to secure success!

One of the newest and most effective social media platforms is Pinterest, which allows users to “pin” or upload images onto a virtual corkboard for others to see. This is a great tool to use when showcasing projects.

You can find some great examples of engineering firms using social media with potential and current employees and clients. One such firm is Burns and McDonnell.

Burns and McDonnell, is a mature firm (established in 1898!), but has really taken hold of social media in order to get messages out to its more than 3,400 employees. These employees include not only engineers, but architects and construction experts as well. Because of its communication strategies, it is currently ranked 26 in Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.

First off, the company maintains and executes an excellent Careers Blog; providing valuable information for readers. Some of their topics include:”How to Establish Your Online Presence,” “LinkedIn: 4 Things You Need to Know About This Powerful Tool,” and “7 Tips for Stress-Free Business Travel.”

The company also has a YouTube channel with various instructional and informational videos. On the LinkedIn fronts, the firm also uses LinkedIn extensively for recruiting and posts jobs frequently. Their Facebook page has quite a few likes for an engineering and design firm, as well as 3,271 followers on Twitter. Both are used for employee interaction and recruiting new candidates.

The Talley Group also uses social media to help find new recruits for your company. Ask them more about this topic today!