This section aims to protect your company from harm if people post about it on social media. It covers items such as proprietary information, negative sentiments about the company, and the company’s right to take disciplinary action. This section of our template lays out when employees must follow the policy. This includes managing company accounts and their personal use that affects employees or the company. Creating a Social Media Policy is crucial when employees are promoting your brand. This policy should outline guidelines for writing about your company and products and clarify who is responsible for posting.

 

Teams

 

It’s not about silencing voices—it’s about amplifying them in the right way. Regularly monitor your social media channels to ensure that published content aligns with the guidelines outlined in your style guide. Review posts, comments, and interactions to identify any deviations from established standards and provide feedback or corrections as needed. Use analytics tools to track performance metrics and evaluate the effectiveness of your social media efforts in relation to your goals and objectives. Buffer’s Social Media Style Guide is a publicly available resource that provides insights into their approach to social media communication.

 

This section should also set a protocol for responding to a PR crisis. Employees who are posting on social media should be trained on these practices. Employees should be truthful when posting to social media, or their post could erode trust, trigger a lawsuit or harm the company’s reputation.

 

Free Template: Build Your Own Social Media Policy

 

In addition to personal boundaries, employees must be educated on the types of professional interactions expected from them. Whether they’re representing the company on LinkedIn or engaging with customers on Twitter, employees must follow specific guidelines to ensure their actions align with the organization’s tone and mission. This also includes ensuring that they avoid crossing the line between personal opinions and professional responsibilities, especially when addressing sensitive topics. On one hand, it offers opportunities for branding, marketing, and employee advocacy.

 

This ensures that all employees understand the potential impact of their actions online and are motivated to maintain a professional and respectful online presence. Company resources, including devices, internet access, and social media accounts, are provided to employees for work-related tasks. Personal use of social media during working hours should be limited to break times and should not interfere with productivity. Misuse of company resources for non-work-related social media activity may result in disciplinary action. Social media is a powerful tool that can shape perceptions, build networks, and influence public opinion.

 

If you’re not sure about what your social media should achieve, a good starting point is to look at your company values. For example, employees shouldn’t post customer data or use copyrighted images without permission. If your industry is regulated, like healthcare or finance, make those rules crystal clear. Of course, not every business needs an overly complex social media policy. Sometimes, employees have to go through social media training programs after a violation.