Clarify how you identify post authors (if at all) and how often team members introduce themselves in video content. The idea is that your audience on each platform should know what to expect. If they’re used to 15-second Reels, it might be confusing and tedious to get sucked into a 90-second version.
Tips For Implementing And Enforcing Your Social Media Policy
Your social media branding guidelines should first note all your profiles. So, if your brand is also on Snapchat, Reddit or TikTok, don’t neglect them in your style guide. Think of a social media style guide as an extension of your brand guidelines. Panacea Neighborhood Pharmacy uses marketing and promotion to interact with customers through a variety of social media channels.
We like to see policies with a lot of common sense and human-speak, as opposed to full of “legalese.” This policy hits the mark. However, innovative companies increasingly prioritize employee advocacy, seeing both employee retention and bottom-line advantages. A recent case study showed tech leader Salesforce activated about a third of its 73,000-person employee base as brand advocates, resulting in a 2,000% ROI on its social ambassador program. I see that Nordstrom advises employees to consult HR with further questions. But I’d prefer to see them include a little more detail in the policy itself.
Protects The Reputation Of The Business And Employees
The policy asks that employees draw a clear line between their personal work and what they do for the University. For example, if a professor runs a Substack on their own time, they should note that the thoughts and opinions expressed within it are their own. It also doesn’t talk down to anyone; it shows trust in employees’ judgment by providing reminders of internet best practices without getting too mired in the details. This is the perfect tone for an environment where most employees are professionals with the intelligence and common sense to make it through nursing or medical school.
Let’s break down how to approach a few major platforms with very different crowds and content rules. Your guidelines should basically include a mini-playbook for each one so your team knows exactly how to show up. 7.4 Lamar University strongly advises that the communications that employees make using personal social media comply with all of the requirements of section four and seven. A Social Media Policy aims to set forth expectations for employees when they use social media, whether they are writing as themselves or as a representative of your company. It sets forth rules and enforcement, and it clarifies who is responsible for the oversight of employees. It is legal to have a Social Media Policy for your company, but you must ensure it does not violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Add quick links to documents like the company’s code of conduct, mission and values, employee agreements and privacy policies. These direct the employees in the right direction and prevent them from going astray while posting online. Oracle’s social media participation policy documents how social media is used as a business, but its employee code of conduct and business ethics touch on how employees can engage in personal social media. Walmart is dedicated to its social media accounts and believes in social media as an avenue for customer service. Its social media policy mentions all the networks it has a presence on, zeroes in on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram.
It can vary depending on the platform, audience, and type of content. If you need training or refresher courses on best practices, please reach out to the Social Media Team at the CUNY Office of Communications and Marketing. Without the right implementation strategy, your work will be for nothing and your policy will just collect dust. These templates are also a good resource if you’re looking to rework an existing policy that may not be cutting it anymore. Stick to plain language that’s easy for your audience to understand, and make a list of jargon-y words to avoid.
It can prevent a wide range of issues, from minor misunderstandings to major reputational damage. Having a clear policy also ensures consistency in how social media misuse is addressed and helps maintain a unified approach to social media use within the organization. These policies are consistently updated to address different security risks and evolving public attitudes.
Your team can easily customize posts for each client and social channel from one central platform. Remember to set up secure document-sharing settings such as passwords and permissions to protect your documents. Ensure all team members who handle or are involved in your clients’ campaigns can easily access these guidelines. Instead, they help empower your team members to work more confidently and avoid missteps that can ruin your clients’ brand image and your relationship with them.