Are CEO's utilizing Social Media?

A recent study has revealed that 64% of CEO's do not use social media to communicate with the public and other stake holders.

                                                                (Weber Shandwick)

Among the CEOs profiled, 93% have been reaching out to people outside their companies in traditional ways. Most have been quoted in news and business publications, while 40% have talked to audiences directly at public events. 

So why are CEO's not taking advantage of social media? 

"There are several reasons why CEOs are not more social," Leslie Gaines-Ross, Weber Shandwick's chief reputation strategist and online reputation expert, said in a statement. "Time is better spent with customers and employees, their reputations are at an all-time low among the general public, the return on investment has not yet been proven, legal counsel tends to caution against it, and anything that smacks of 'celebrity CEO' is a no-win."

"It's not surprising that CEOs are less inclined to participate in social media given the perceived risk and time commitment required to engage in two-way conversations," Chris Perry, president of Weber Shandwick Digital Communications, said in a statement. "What's surprising, however, is how few CEOs are using social technologies as mediums to share information and company perspective. These are potentially powerful tools for real-time communication."

The full study can be viewed at Weber Shandwick's website: http://bit.ly/c30SJw