Social Media is best when it is holistic, which means combining a whole range of skills, experiences, techniques and services when you use social media. Use each of the five hats; to grow and develop your skills in each area.

1. THE FIVE HATS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
source: www.power-advertising.co.uk
C O P Y R I G H T @ S O C I A L S T A T U S 2 0 1 2

2. 1. PUBLIC RELATIONS HAT (PR HAT)
This hat will help you deal with any information between your business and the
public.
Enhance your knowledge of PR in Social Media
http://www.hubspot.com/Portals/53/docs/ebooks/pr%20ebook-final.pdf
Be prepared by setting up a crisis management strategy -
http://www.socialmediamarketing.org/social-media-crisis-management.html.
Use this hat when you are dealing with clients, customers, employees, the press
especially when you are managing issues or crises!
(Red is for energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as for
feelings, hunches and intuition)
Copyright @ Social Status 2012

3. 2. CONTENT HAT
Content Hat – for creating, finding, editing, sourcing, researching
and generating content – so this hat will help you with any form
of social media content.
Set up a calendar to plan your content - http://executive-virtual-
assistant.com/executive-virtual-assistant-menu/freebies/
Use this hat to help you find, source, write, edit, assess
information, when you need to check facts and when you need
to create your own content!
(Orange is for enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity,
determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and
stimulation).
Copyright @ Social Status 2012

4. 3. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAT
Customer service hat – This hat will help with all the customer service
inquiries, queries and services needed .
Here’s an eBook from radian 6 on Customer Service in the Age of
Social Media - http://www.radian6.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/09/Radian6_May2010_eBookwithcode.pdf
Here's a social customer service report from Brandwatch-
http://www.brandwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/brandwatch/BW-
Report-Customer-Service-Index-2012.pdf
Use this hat when dealing with clients, customers and social media
accounts as well as when you connect with people both on and
offline!
(Blue is for trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth,
and heaven as well as aiding the thinking process.)
Copyright @ Social Status 2012

5. 4. ADVERTISING/MARKETING HAT
Advertising/Marketing Hat – This hat will help you promote, advertise and market
your brand.
Have a look at this explanation of New Media Advertising and Marketing -
http://baruchnewmedia.com/wiki/Marketing_and_Advertising_using_New_Me
dia
Social Media/New Media still requires old/traditional media methods to reach
your fans/followers/customers. (TV ads, print ads, leaflets, flyers, mail
drops, radio advertising, guerrilla marketing, email marketing, launches,
events, videos, campaigns etc.)
Focus on which method is appropriate for your business, test out different forms
of media, use email marketing and reach a wider range of people.
Use this hat when you are planning your marketing, assessing your
advertising/marketing and coming up with campaigns and strategies!
(Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery,
and magic.)
Copyright @ Social Status 2012

6. 5. COMMUNICATIONS HAT
Communications Hat –This hat focuses on branding, messages,
personality, identity, tone, culture, interests and the way you socially
communicate with the public.
Listen to: Game Changers: A Conversation about Social Media, Brand
Identity, and PR - http://www.focus.com/roundtables/game-changers-
conversation-about-social-media-brand-identity/
Think of this as the friendly, approachable hat.
Use this hat to exchange messages between your business and the public,
to engage with people online as well as to build relationships with
people on and offline, to share content, to promote social media good,
to sometimes go off topic, to highlight other businesses/campaigns or
ideas
(Green is for growth, harmony, freshness, fertility as well as possibilities,
alternatives, and new ideas)

7. USE EACH HAT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA!
By putting on a hat which is suitable for each task; you will be able to focus
and concentrate on the task.
Social Media is best when it is holistic, which means combining a whole
range of skills, experiences, techniques and services when you use
social media.
Use each of the five hats; to grow and develop your skills in each area.
By using each hat; you will be providing a better relationship to your
customers/fans/followers and focus on what is necessary and needed
to get the job done.
I used this website for an explanation of colours and what they represent -
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
Thank you to Edward De Bono for his six thinking hats which inspired this
content http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php/
Social Status – Social Media Training, Assistance and Setup
http://www.wix.com/ebbyeryan/socialstatus
Copyright @ Social Status 2012