With new technologies today, companies are realizing that they must have more internet presence, and this implies presence in social networks too. Consequently, they need a social media policy that outlines the corporate guidelines or principles for employees to communicate in the online world. But what should these policies consist of?
![Social media]( "Social media")
There isn’t a right policy that applies for every company, but here are some outlines that may help you develop your own corporate social media policy.
1. The policy should be more about what employees are allowed to do and what are the best practices for social media than about what they can’t or shouldn’t do. It may be useful to take advice from those of your employees who are the most active in social media to help you design the policy guidelines.
2. Have your employees familiarize themselves with the employment agreement and any codes of practice there may be within your company.
3. State the limitations of the policy. Make sure they understand where it applies (i.e.: multimedia, social networks, blogs, etc.).
4. Remind your employees that they are not allowed to disclose any information that is confidential or propietary to the company in the internet.
5. If an employee makes a comment about the company or its business, they must identify themselves as an employee, and include a disclaimer in the lines of: “the views expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of (company’s name)”. They should never state nor imply that they may be speaking on the company’s behalf.
6. If an employee is posting in the internet as an individual, they shouldn’t use company logos or trademarks unless permission has been granted beforehand.
7. Corporate communications through social media (Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc.) must ensure that they have approval from the company, especially when these communications may refer to the company and the industry.
8. Internet postings must respect the applicable law in any aspect (copyright, privacy, fair use, financial disclosure, etc.).
9. The company should reserve the right to avoid certain subjects or withdraw any posts or comments that they may consider inappropriate.
10. Always keep an appropriate and polite tone when posting or making comments when posting on behalf of the company. Remind your employees that, although they may be posting or commenting themselves, they must act on behalf of the company when doing so.
