Social Media Policies Aren't Enough

Lynne Johnson, senior vice president of social media for the Advertising Research Foundation (and a former editor for Fast Company) is quoted in an article entitled Corporate Social Media Policies: The Good, the Mediocre, and the Ugly in which a number of company policies for social media are shared.

Johnson sums up the policy overviews by saying this:

"And though I realize that policies are not educational documents --
guidelines are. And that's what's missing from a lot of them listed, actual
guidelines. How to do it, where, why -- with examples."

I couldn't agree more. The rules and regulations - sandbox boundaries if you will, need to be clearly defined. But it is one thing to give the black and white which is written to protect the company and it is another to give the how-to examples so that the employees feels comfortable getting started.

If an employee just sees the rules and if the rules are extensive to the point of FRIGHTENING - the employee won't even begin to reach out to customers via social media.

"I don't want to get involved, I might mess up and then loose my job."

Take for example the CNN employee who was fired for a Tweet.

CNN’s senior editor of Middle Eastern affairs, Octavia Nasr, was shown the door Wednesday after sending a tweet that expressed respect for the Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah. Despite a lengthy explanation of her 140 character foot-in-mouth, CNN brass stood by their decision.

A simple, easy to follow, how to guide that goes hand in hand with the policies is a great tool for your employees to help them understand the proper way to get started. Now there is an Employee How To Guide available that follows the same 16 policies and procedures outlined in the Policy for Social Media manual available from AllWrite Ink.

For just $9.95 you can download this helpful newsletter format instruction guide that includes a variety of additional websites and resources to help get your employees started connecting with customers via social media.

Policy for Social Media What If Scenarios

You have decided to open the social media arena to your employees but what if some just aren't ready? What if some abuse the opportunity?

Coming soon is a management companion piece to the Policy for Social Media manual and the Employee How To Guide called the Manager's How to and What If Guide. Here are a few of the situations that will be addressed in this valuable guide:

Manager’s “How to” and “What If” Guide for Social Media

· Employee wants to participate in social media as part of their job. How do you determine if they are a good candidate?

· An employee wants to participate in social media but they aren’t a good candidate; what do you do/say?

· How do you “listen” to what your employees are saying on social media; both on and off the job?

What if employee…

· Has a picture on their personal Facebook page of them wearing items with the company logo visible and they are doing something inappropriate?

· Is spending too much time on social media during the work day and it is effecting their overall work performance?

· Has “followers” on one or more of their accounts that leaves inappropriate messages?

· Leaves negative comments about the company or company products without a reasonable explanation?

· Offers status updates that are too casual or consistently don’t add value? (i.e. just poured a cup of coffee, having trouble staying focused, would rather be home/at the beach/golfing, etc.)

· Offers no sympathy to customers expressing concern?

· Isn’t responsive to comments/questions/complaints from followers?

· Uses images or uploads video that are too personal or not a professional representation of the company?

· Actively begins using social media to look for a job during working hours?

· Shares opinions not representative of the company?

· Provides false information – intentionally or not intentionally?

· Is making money from social media on company accounts during company hours?

Visit Policy for Social Media soon to purchase your copy of this great training material.

Policy for Social Media Employee How to Guide

Having a written policy for social media manual is a great place to start. You need the written word to help define the boundaries for acceptable behavior when it comes to talking about your company and your products on the Internet.

But a policy manual can be boring reading.

Now there is a colorful, newsletter format employee how to guide that explains the basics for getting started with social media.

This PDF download file is a great companion piece to the Policy for Social Media manual. Available for just $9.95 - you'll want to order your copy today!



Don't have the Policy for Social Media manual yet? Download the manual with 16 policies and procedures for social media participation and start buzzing about your company today.

Policy for Social Media YouTube commercial

Download your copy today:

Only 41% of Companies have Policy for Social Media

I just read an article about the use of social media as a strategy for marketing in which the writer quotes the following:

Surveying executives from 100 companies, the market researcher found that
while 78% of respondents' companies are actively using social media, although
only 41% reported that these activities are executed through a corporate social
media plan.

The author, Sheila Shayon, goes on to say that most of the policies only speak about marketing while only "16% include human resources or recruiting activities."

The Policy for Social Media manual available here includes information on the hows and whys from a marketing perspective but also:

• Using social media to establish crediblity for each employee
• How to use LinkedIn as a research tool for recruiting and sales prospecting
• The details of unacceptable behavior and the consequences of said behavior
• Keeping personal and professional lives separate
• How to incorporate social media into your daily work schedule while still staying on task of what is expected

The Policy for Social Media is a complete document that encompasses the benefits of appropriate/successful participation from the company's perspective but also what is in it for customers and employees.

For just $49.95 you can download this valuable manual and start protecting your company brand while creating buzz for your business!

Policy for Social Media is in the news

There are hundreds of articles and blog posts speaking to the importance of writing policies and procedures for social media; but how many actually provide a written manual for your company use?



The Policy for Social Media created by AllWrite Ink is now available for your business as a downloadable file.



And now the word is on the streets - the Policy for Social Media is available to help you protect your brand by establishing the boundaries of social media participation for your employees.



Order your Policy for Social media manual today for just $49.95.