Why? The same reason your business should.  It is a very efficient and effective means to engage with customers, and through education and information, move them to take action.  Let’s look at what they did:

CDC in Social Networking Sites

The CDC made social networking sites a centerpiece of their outreach and education to effectively and inexpensively reach individuals with personalized and targeted health information. CDC currently participates in four social networking sites:

Facebook

CDC launched the official CDC Facebook profile in May 2009 to communicate up-to-date information about novel H1N1 flu. This profile communicates featured health information daily and also highlights new social media information.

MySpace

In November 2007, CDC launched the official CDC MySpace page. The CDC MySpace profile includes blog posts, quick access health information and much more. CDC is using MySpace as a channel to direct users to consumer health information on CDC.gov, In addition, CDC badges are available through the CDC MySpace page, and users can get information on incorporating CDC health messages and graphics into their own pages, empowering our friends to become our advocates.

Daily Strength

DailyStrength is a collection of safe, anonymous, online support groups focused on specific health topics to help people overcome their personal challenge or support a loved one through theirs. CDC hosts a  group page on DailyStrength that provides access to CDC’s featured health information to empower individuals to lead healthier, safer lives.

CaringBridge

CaringBridge connects family and friends during a critical illness, treatment or recovery. CDC provides access to the CDC A-Z Index via content syndication automatically to every single CaringBridge profile.

Twitter/Microblogs Updates

The CDC uses Twitter to update people on new content that is released on their webiste, keep in contact with professionals and ping any significant updates to the general population.

Online Videos

The CDC releases on-line videos that are educational (how to make sure you wash your hands properly) to educational (how to use disposable respirators). These become viral and also get indexed by search engines for people who are searching for solutions on these topics.

The CDC also uses RSS, Widgets, Text Messaging, website badges and other applications to complete the social media platform. You can learn more about what they are doing at http://www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Campaigns/H1N1/index.html.

The key here is the CDC has created a consumer and professional communications platform with all these a various tools.  They do not cost a ton of money to maintain, and they can activate people very quickly.  Wouldn’t that be nice to be able to do that for your business?  I also like the idea that the government is finding powerful but inexpensive ways to communicate to us!