Corporate Communication Through Social Networks: The Identification of the Key Dimensions for Dialogic Communication

Abstract

Web 2.0 and the social networks have changed how organizations interact with their publics. They enable organizations to engage in symmetric dialogic communications with individuals. Various organizations are increasingly using different social media to enhance their visibility and relationships with their publics. They allow them to disseminate information, to participate, listen and actively engage in online conversations with different stakeholders. Some social networks have become a key instrument for corporate communication. Therefore, this chapter presents a critical review on the organizations’ dialogic communications with the publics via social networks. It puts forward a conceptual framework that comprises five key dimensions including ‘active presence’, ‘interactive attitude’, ‘interactive resources’, ‘responsiveness’ and ‘conversation’. This contribution examines each dimension and explains their effect on the organizations’ dialogic communication with the publics. Hence, this contribution has resulted in important implications for corporate communication practitioners as well as for academia. Moreover, it opens future research avenues to academia.

Keywords: communication, corporate communication, social networks, social media, digital media, online, dialogic communication, online conversations, online visibility, online responsiveness

JEL Classification: D8, D80, D83, M1, M3, M31, M37