If you’ve carefully considered your goals and decided that using social media is a good way to help you build relationships with your Gen Y employees, there are a number of different strategies that you can use. Doubtless, there are thousands of strategies out there, but here are three effective strategies that can start you down the road.

Before I hit those, I’ll again emphasize that the best way to determine what’s best for your staff is to ask them. They know what they’ll respond to and what they won’t, and they won’t hesitate to tell you if you ask.

1. Create a group on an existing social network.

Rather than simply adding your Millennials as friends, create a group for your staff. Whether it’s on Facebook (the network with which I’m most familiar because I use it most) or MySpace or another that your staff prefers, let the group be a place where they can interact with each other. If you’re really brave, let it be a place where they can provide you with honest feedback, so that you can work to manage them more effectively.

2. Create a social network of your own.

Starbucks has created its own internal social network, as have a number of other large companies. But you don’t need a Starbucks Grande Size Budget to do this. Go to ning.com, and you can create a network with just a few clicks. Much like the group, this will allow your staff a place to interact that is their own. Be warned, though, not all young people are looking for another social network to join, and this option can become time-consuming on your end.

3. Start an internal blog

Rather than using social networks, create an internal blog. Then, rather than dealing with profiles (and the inevitable inappropriate pictures, quotes, etc.), you can simply post an idea or a thought or something as a blog post, and then allow employees to comment on it. Blogs can be password protected, so you can set up the blog so that it is password protected, thus allowing you to limit the conversation to your staff. A blog on WordPress is free and easy to use.