Whether you like it or not, it’s time to develop a social media policy for your organization. Here are 5 tips to get you started:
1. Introduce the purpose of the policy
The purpose of a social media policy is to protect both the employer and employee in regards to the conversations that occur on the social web. Most employees initially feel that such a policy is an invasion of their privacy. It must be explained to employees that they are now brand ambassadors. An employee who talks about their employer, job or industry to their friends on social media is indirectly impacting the organization’s brand. If employees understand the reason for the policy, they are more likely to abide by it.
2. Customize the policy for your organization
One size does not fit all. The social media policy that works for another company may not necessarily work for yours. Make it easy for employees to use social media in a positive manner. Provide specific examples of what to do, what to avoid, and explain the reasoning behind it. The social media policy should evolve over time and be a living breathing document.
3. Establish an escalation path
While your social media policy will cover most possible scenarios, it is a good practice to leave a buffer for any unexpected issues or problems. Employees must know how to escalate issues or who to approach for questions. An escalation path will help employees determine how to respond in the event of an unprecedented situation.
4. Keep it simple
Keeping the policy simple makes it easier for employees to digest, understand and embrace it . The policy can be as basic as a single page document or a short PowerPoint presentation. A few organizations have even put together a short video. Some good examples are Victoria Department of Justice and Salesforce.com
5. Integrate the policy into the organisation
Establishing the social media policy is the easy part; implementing it can be more difficult. The larger your organization is, the more challenging it can be to roll out a new policy.
Once the policy is ready, the next step is to develop a training program for your employees. Partnering with the HR or Learning & Development departments is a good practice because they may already have access to resources and a process for rolling out such a policy.
Some tips:
•Integrate the policy into new hire orientation to ensure recruits are up to par
•Incorporate the social media policy into existing learning and development plans
•Launch a series of informal ‘lunch and learn’ sessions to introduce the importance of a social media policy
Abbas Aldina is Director of logicks.com, a specialist social media company based in Dubai.
