Consequences of Not Having a Social Media Policy

It seems to be getting clearer that avoiding/locking out employees from all social media usage is an ineffective approach. The fact is with over 500 million Facebook members - your employees are talking on social media and they may be talking about your company. Even if they chat on their own time, what they have to say about their job and your company could come back and bite you hard.

Having a written Policy for Social Media that spells out the guidelines and invites participation not only defines the sandbox so employees aren't left in the dark and wondering what they can and can't say, but also allows you to have a more vibrant connection with your customers.

Kristen talks about some of the consequences of not having a social media policy in her recent blog post entitled Setting Your Company's Social Media Policy Can Prevent Disaster Online.

She says:

Operating without a social media policy is like driving without a seatbelt; eventually it will cost you, and the consequences could be dire.

Bear in mind that an effective social media policy should not shut down social media activity in your company, but rather encourage it. This policy should also protect your business and employees from getting in trouble online with the law if confidential information is leaked, a subpoena is issued, or an eDiscovery request comes about.

Since social media for corporate marketing is fairly new, most companies fail to think about a social media policy until it is too late. If someone is planning on targeting your company and you do not have a policy in place, you will find yourself very unprepared and taken off guard.

Do you have a policy in writing? Consider the Policy for Social Media manual which spells out 16 policies and detailed procedures for participating in social media both on and off the job.

Here's what one HR professional had to say about Policy for Social Media:

After creating, researching and revising multiple client's Social Media policies, I found a comprehensive guide by All Write Ink. All of the elements from Introduction to Consequences are covered in their Policies for Social Media. The value of the last two pages of related resources make the cost a complete bargain. Thank you to Deborah Chaddock Brown for a 'complete package' on Social Media and the related policies and procedures.

Sonya L. Weiland, PHR
President, WeilandWorks Consulting

Social Media is Already Entrenched - Guidelines are Needed

You may think your employees are abiding by the "no social media" policy, but 50% ignore the rule, according to the recently published Cisco's '2010 Midyear Security Report.' A review of the report, written by Nancy Davis Kho, had this to share:

The report found that 75% of employees surveyed identified online collaboration as critical to their jobs, and 90% said such collaboration makes them more productive. And it appears that they're committed to collaboration, whether or not their employers are: 45% of employees who are in the Millennial generation use social network sites at work, though only 32% say such use is supported by their IT departments. Half of respondents said they ignore company policy prohibiting use of social media tools at least once a week.

If the horse has already left the barn...it is time to define the pasture borders. Having a policy for social media acknowledges the fact that social media is here to stay. It is a great resource for collaboration and connecting with customers and co-workers. So why not embrace it and just define the boundaries?

The Policy for Social Media manual and companion Employee How to Guide help to do that for you.

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 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:

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.

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.