Creating Social Media Guidelines for Employees

Companies must have social media guidelines in place at all times. If a company has not formed guidelines, they are at loss on what is allowed and what is not in the digital world. Not having guidelines can have tremendous consequences on your company within seconds. Companies must start taking social media serious when it comes to your brand, profits, reputation, and your overall popularity online.

Guidelines should start with setting the right tone.

It is extremely important for a company to be on social media but also to state their positions on social media to employees. Acknowledgment that the organization is excited about social media tech and wants employees to be more open to customers and stakeholders on social media. Effective engagement of social media encourages the interest in the organization, products and services.

Social Media Guidelines Checklist Figure 5.1 (Open Leadership)

Introduction

• Encourage and Support

• When Guidelines apply

Guidelines

Identity Transparency

• When you do or don't identify yourself as an employee

• Definitely when discussing organization related topics

• Potential conflict of interests that others should know about

Responsibility

• Take responsibility for your own words; don't post anonymously

• Separate your wolds from your employer's with a disclaimer

• Respect- for clients, fellow employees, and competitors

• Don't let it interfere with your work

Confidentiality

• Remember the confidentiality agreement you signed

• Respect the privacy of clients and peers

• Highlight places where confidentiality might slip

• List what is OK to share, What isn't

Common Sense and Judement

• Make it clear there will be areas where common sense is needed

• Ask if unsure

Best Practices for Social Media Practitioners

Tone

• Have a personality, develop a voice

• Err on the side of caution; don't post when angry or upset

Quality

• Spelling and grammer

• Add value

Trust Building

• Respond to people

• Speak in your area of expertise

• Link out a lot

• admit mistakes

Oversight and Consequences

• When the organization will make requests

• Process to follow for managers

• Escalation and resolution process

Additional Resources

• HR, press, and legal contacts for managers and employees

• Training