Policy for Social Media Kit

Have you been hesitant to open the flood gates and

allow your associates to participate in social media?

Has the lack of a written Policy and Procedure manual that provides guidelines for social media participation been holding you back from allowing your associates to connect with customers?

Policy for Social Media is a comprehensive guideline that includes 16 policies with corresponding procedures to define the boundaries of social media participation.

Policies include:

- The proper type of status update - what to say and what not to say
- Finding people to follow and determining who should follow you
- How to incorporate social media into your work schedule
- How to promote a company event with social media

One of the most valuable components of the Policy for Social Media is the detailed Policy governing what constitutes UNACCEPTABLE SOCIAL MEDIA BEHAVIOR followed by the consequences.

Don't block associates from talking about the company for fear of what they'll say - ENCOURAGE their participation.

People buy from those they like and trust and what better way to build a relationship with your company than by getting to know the people that make it up?

Consumers want access to their favorite companies. They want the ability to:

Share their opinions
Offer their suggestions
Vent when it doesn't go the way they expect
Ask questions of the decision makers

Having a written policy for social media allows you to encourage associates to connect with consumers knowing they have written guidelines that outline the process. Policy for Social Media is a comprehensive set of guidelines to help you get started.

At the introductory price of just $49.95 (a $99 value) you'll receive:

Instructions for how to customize and prepare your Policy for Social Media

16 Policies which include the Statement of Need and detailed procedures for how to get started

Acknowledgement Form for your associates to sign and date stating they understand the policies and will adhere to them

Resource section with 37 additional links for articles, glossaries and how-to guides

ORDER YOUR DOWNLOADABLE POLICY FOR SOCIAL MEDIA kit TODAY

Order today. Just $49.95 and you'll receive a complete Policy manual for social media usage.

FTC Ruling on Endorsements - How Does it Impact You?

As of December 1, 2009, the FTC put into effective Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonilas in Advertising.

The guidelines detail many examples of what is an endorsement vs a testimonial and the importance of truth in comments and the clear disclosure when someone is writing on behalf of a company or that they have received products or services free of charge.

Are you protected should one of your employees comment about your company's products or services either positively or negatively? Do you have written guidelines within your company's policies that outline the expectations and consequences?

Employees that create positive buzz about your company and actively seek to build relationships with consumers is a GREAT THING for your business so long as they follow the guidelines and disclose that they are an employee of your company.

You have two options:

1. Forbid all social media activity
2. Provide guidance and encourage your employees to engage in conversation with consumers about your products via social media

If you choose the 2nd option - then you need a Policy for Social Media.

Outline for Policies and Procedures

You have to start somewhere when creating a policy and procedure and an outline is as good a place as any. Here is what the Policy for Social Media will include:

• Why is a policy necessary?

• The benefits of social media for the company

• The benefits of social media for the employee

• The benefits of social media for the customer

• Policies:
Which venues are approved
Establishing your user name
How to participate in the approved venues
What constitutes an acceptable update
How to choose the people you’ll follow
How to accept the people that follow you
Sharing your expertise
Promoting events
Promoting products
Promoting services
Actively listening
Responding to comments
How to handle irate customers via social media
Protecting the company brand
Keeping personal and professional separate
Using images to enhance your message; videos and photos
Prioritizing social media into your work schedule
Unacceptable social media behavior
Consequences of unacceptable social media behavior

• Resources for more information on how to use social media

What have I missed? Add your thoughts in the comments section of this blog post.

Business Policies for Social Media

Social media is the fastest growing method for reaching target prospects, customers and leaders in the industry. You are starting to have a corporate strategy for social media:

You've set up a blog
You have a company Twitter Account
You are working on creating a Facebook Fan Page
Your company has its own LinkedIn page

But what about your individual employees. Do you allow them to participate in social networking during work hours? Can employees update their status?

Most companies are blocking daytime social media participation for a variety of reasons: the time element it takes away from productive work, managing what they say about the company, monitoring comments, video and photos that could be detrimental to the company brand.

However - if you want to really reach out to your customers - you need to do so with more than just a brand image. If customers have the opportunity to follow individual employees, they may develop a relationship with your company that stands the test of time.

Customers do business with those they like and trust.

It is much easier to trust a brand if you know the names of the people behind the brand.

In a recent article in Entrepreneur Magazine, the author Ken Wheaton, talks about how companies can GO BIG in the social world and reach their customers:

It means unshackling your employees. It means equipping them with tools, policies and the means to engage with stakeholders around the clock. Above all, it means allowing your work force to unlock and share their company and subject-matter expertise.

It means - allowing employees to engage in regular social networking in the name of the company.

What's stopping you?

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES!

You need hard and fast rules that govern the use of social media in the name of the company while also providing the means and how-to instructions for your employees.

Coming soon - a company guide for you to create a set of custom policies and procedures for using social media within your company.

Stop back for some tips and techniques and then keep a watch out for the company policy and procedure online manual coming soon!