Today’s guest post is by Pat Perdue.

Practically all companies now have Facebook pages, and many have Twitter accounts.

But does simply having a social media presence, even a slick, expensive one, mean that a company is truly social?

While many may tell you that is enough, the answer is much more complex than that.

A truly social company is social from the inside out, rather than outside in.

A social company can withstand the scrutiny of a wider audience into their one-on-one customer interactions, and this scrutiny adds value to the brand by delivering a wider audience.

A recent example of this can be seen from LEGO, which turned a customer service inquiry from a young fan into a social media sensation. (more…)