Social media has been a great tool to use for recruiting great talent. But what happens after the talent is on board? Our HR social media guru Kendra Reddy explains there are many uses for social media to not only attract, but engage and retain your human capital.

Traditionally, Human Resources has been seen as the keepers of policy, procedure, order, and the employee. Social media is part of the evolution of HR. If you really want to be viewed and treated as partners to the business, then you need to be current and change with the times. Social media is a staple in today's world, and there are hundreds of ways beyond recruiting to use it effectively.

Here are a few quick ideas and examples of how you can further incorporate social media into your HR plans:

Solicit feedback and ideas from current and potential employees by tweeting company specific hash tags and hosting Twitter chats.

Create a company Facebook page and let employees help populate it with things like 'news you can use', fun info, and photos from company events. You can also post here about upcoming training, available positions, and share best practices.

Deepen connections between virtual team members by mapping them out on Google Maps, Bing Maps, or Four Square.

Stay engaged with former employees by creating an alumni or 'friends of' group on LinkedIn and Facebook. This helps keep your brand top of mind and can reduce the amount of knowledge lost when someone leaves.

Practice recovery situations for customer service professionals on Twitter and Facebook.

Create a company YouTube channel where executives can post regular update videos instead of sending lengthy emails that no one reads. You can also post videos of training testimonials and clips to promote company social events.

Post information about employee referral programs and connect mentors with protégées with photos and stories on Facebook and Twitter.

Make use of QR codes and start mobile campaigns for learning and development and leadership.

Increase attendance and participation at town hall meetings by creating a Twitter hash tag so people can ask questions and contribute online, and offer incentives for people who check in on Facebook.

These are just a few ways to use social media beyond recruiting. Talk to the rest of your HR team and HR community at large to share ideas, tips, and advice. Have fun, good luck, and I'll see you online!