Sharing your company’s expectations for employees’ social media conduct can help all parties avoid pitfalls. It keeps your team and brand looking professional, and it might even inspire your team to confidently advocate for your business, knowing when and how to speak publicly about your company. You can’t control everything your employees do and say on their personal social media accounts. However, it’s important to show them why their behavior on personal profiles affects your company and how they can avoid conflict. And since social media is a common resource for scammers and criminals, it’s imperative your social media policy includes guidelines that protect both your employees and company.
Welcome Email To New Employee That Wows (scripts) Wellhub
You should have a clear plan that establishes objectives and desired outcomes. There are several social media tools you can utilize to maximize your digital presence. For instance, you might say, “If you encounter a negative comment or review, never argue or post disrespectful comments. Instead, remain calm, polite and seek to resolve the issue professionally.”
Benefit #3: It Helps You With Security And Privacy
From sharing specific types of content to how they respond to customer comments (both positive and negative), a social media policy carries all the details of what can be shared and what cannot. In today’s digital age, social media is a vital aspect of any brand’s marketing strategy. However, without clear guidelines, the message your brand sends can become inconsistent, or worse, damaging.
The FTC most recently updated its disclosure guidelines in June 2023. The FTC made it clear that brands can’t use virtual influencers — or any AI-generated personas — to create fake or misleading endorsements. The FTC requires content creators to disclose all “material connections” to brands. This includes personal, family, and employment relationships — not just financial relationships.
Remember, this is a document you should draft and discuss with your HR and legal experts. When you work with a team to create a fair policy, it’s all the more likely to generate the results you want. Understandably, companies want to manage their brand’s reputation online. A social media policy can give your team helpful guidance to reduce the risk of them doing something online that could damage their personal or professional brand or paint your business in a negative light. A diverse team is essential for developing a robust social media policy that addresses various concerns.
You can start by adding it to your employee handbook and making it easily accessible online. But the broad steps involved in creating a smart one are fairly consistent. Here’s a process you can follow to get to the best guidelines for your business. By signing this policy, employees acknowledge they have read, understood, and agree to comply with the company’s Social Media Policy. For example, if you ever had to discipline someone for a social post, the guidelines you created would provide a clear justification for doing so. They’d also help to separate the company from the lone employee’s actions.
Be prepared when responding to questions or feedback shared through your social channelPublic responses may be seen by many people. If the response contains sensitive information, or if the response is specific to an individual, provide the individual with a more direct way to contact you (email or phone). Use caution before posting “breaking news” to OUSMAs or speculating on big announcements that do not have details included in official University correspondence. For more robust features, the University has a contract with Sprout Social to assist UA personnel in diving deeper into social media analytics, listening streams and content creation. Clearly state what can and cannot be shared publicly to avoid any breaches of confidentiality.