If you work in marketing or communications, you probably have little doubt that your organization should start utilizing social media, but are you ready?From my experience, C-level executives often worry about what could go wrong. They worry people will say bad things and even worse that no one will do anything about it. The reality is that if you have company, people are already out there talking you. And if you don’t know about what they are saying, chances are you are already doing nothing about it.I put together a series of questions that might help you decide whether your department or organization is ready to join the conversation on social media.

• Do you have a marketing or communications department?
• Does your marketing or communications department produce news articles, press releases, videos, photos and/or events?
• Do you know who your target audience?
• Is your target audience on social media platforms?
• Do you have key messages?
• Can your social media administrator answer common questions posed on social media?
• Do you have the ability to call on experts within your business to help with complex questions and situations?
• Does someone in your department have experience utilizing social media platforms?
• Have you contacted a lawyer or your legal department to see if there are any subject areas or statements you might want to avoid?

If you answered yes to all these questions, chances are you organization is ready. If not, your problems may be bigger than deciding if your organization is ready for social media.