Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Chad Swaney — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:14:45 -0000

I may understand why we feel the need to analyze the "impact of social media on productivity" but at the same time it irritates me that we have to treat social media like a sui generis entity. No one feels compelled to do a study on whether office telephones have impacted productivity--even though telephones at work can just as easily be used to chit chat with friends as facebook or twitter. We accept telephones as a requirement to do business, just as we should treat a robust online presence as a requirement for conducting business

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Chris Boudreaux — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:08:52 -0000

You can filter more than 60 social media policies by industry in this online database:

http://socialmediagovernanc...

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Michael — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:37:21 -0000

Very useful summary...cheers for that

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Joe Hendershot — Sun, 31 May 2009 11:24:16 -0000

In the b-to-b (business to business) space, CEOs and senior marketing people are watching social media activities intently, and trying to figure out how they can participate. What's most critical, is for them to acknowledge that social media is here to stay, and it can't be stopped. "It's not us, it's them" should be their mantra: it's web2.0 at its best -- user-generated content ... conversations about their brand taking place ... conversations that must be monitored. Yes, b-to-b marketers must develop a social media strategy, even if it's a very basic one.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Victoria — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:13:57 -0000

Social Media has been a hot topic for employees that need the internet as a tool for research and networking.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Rob Fleischmann — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:27:44 -0000

Terrific link and "bang on" IMHO.

Bottom line, if a company's policy includes respecting their employees - I'm pretty sure they would receive the same, in kind... whether online or at the water cooler. The thing I love about Social Media is how much more effective it is to get any company to "fly right", lest they veer from the 'straight and narrow'.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

aulin — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:26:32 -0000

Sure, I mean it's a simple thing to do, but to me it's an important principle that you shouldn't have to do that. An employer should not have the right to inspect you on your own time. I'm not sure I could work for a company that did that, even if I don't consider myself to be someone who does stupid things.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

stephanie — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:22:13 -0000

What action does your policy dictate? Do you think it is fair punishment for the employee's action? Maybe they need to be re-familiarized with the company policy. It all depends on what "really messes up" means. Did they bash the association? People have lost their jobs because of their actions in social media. If you have a policy in place, this should be able to be avoided.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

stephanie — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:20:13 -0000

I think most policies should address what employees do or say in regard to the company, not on their own time. A lot of people on Twitter will say in their bio "I work for ABZ Corp. and the views expressed here are mine and not those of my employer." Simple, to the point, and covers your butt.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Ed Hart — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:57:28 -0000

Social media - is two words, media as in internet, and social as in sociable. In the same way there are those who abuse the telephone and postal system, there are those who don't use Twitter appropriately.
However, as with all forms of communication, it can be powerful and profitable - ask Barack Obama if I haven't convinced you! I use it for my work and it works.
On this basis, it has the potential to mess with your business as well as improve it, so compnaies have to put soem controls in place.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

GertieCranker — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:44:29 -0000

I'm working on a prototype social media policy (guidelines, actually) for associations. The question I have is implementation:let's assume you have one, and a staff person really messes up. What can you, as an employer, do about it? Any suggestions?

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

aulin — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:52:21 -0000

Why should a company be allowed to dictate what I say or do on my free time? That's shocking! I mean, sure, they might have a say if I go around saying bad stuff *about them*, but if I happen to do stupid stuff that has nothing to do with my work place, why should they even be allowed to care?

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

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Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

zrce — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:17:00 -0000

nice summary. very interesting!

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

racep — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:43:21 -0000

Thanks for the link.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Philippe Borremans — Sun, 03 May 2009 12:22:27 -0000

I just wanted to remark that point 1 of 1. WHY have such a policy? wouldn't be considered legal in many different European countries where the privacy of the employee is protected by law...

In Belgium for instance you (as an employer) can only actively monitor my Internet access (as an employee) if you suspect me of breaking the law....

Also, it is worth collecting all social media guidelines in one place and this list is one of the first I discovered years ago: http://bit.ly/smpolicies

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Beth Kanter — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:16:37 -0000

I wrote a comprehensive article about this last month with pointers to different policies
http://beth.typepad.com/bet...

Thanks for this great post

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Kari Aakre — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:25:09 -0000

I work for Intel and we rolled out our social media guidelines for employees late last year. They are shared on our public website for complete transparency here: http://www.intel.com/sites/....

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Christina Tierney — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:00:21 -0000

I'm excited you brought this point up..."social web immigrants" (social web immigrants not mine...not sure where I heard it...thinking Jerimian Owyang) are showing up for many reasons. Some are just beginning a Personal Branding journey. But traditional media and PR in it's efforts to remain relevant...have joined the conversation as well. This shifting of focus has brought many more commercially motiviated sites...some of the raw authenticity that came with the first Bloggers could be perceived as diminishing and diluted. I do believe that people are able to discern between "corporate speak messaging" from passionate advocates and what might be a company approved message.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Christina Tierney — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:52:05 -0000

You bring up a really important point to note here...most of the companies I consult with have EXTREMELY STRINGENT IT policies restricting access to a large majority of Soc Nets. Comments might be possible on Blogs, Forums, etc....but since most major corps don't even allow employees access to these sites during work hours...it's often met with skepticism as to why should they even bother...

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Christina Tierney — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:48:43 -0000

I LOVED THIS! It is challenging...trying to keep up with this...but the basics have to be discussed like virtuallyready states above...they're needs to be education regarding some of the more "mystical" pieces of this. To a great number of the "neuro-typicals" those that don't swim all day in these new streams of communication...they're are dangers they're not aware of. If companies choose to participate from a consumer perspective...to "sell" product...then precedents are set around perceived acceptance of the so-called "new mediums." It's important to educate those that don't understand the possible negative outcomes from participating.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Saddam Azad — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:41:48 -0000

My company is thinking of it. Although our company does not have an official policy, everybody there tweets anyway.

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Bryanrhoads — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:39:57 -0000

Hey Cool! Thanks Jeff. The nice thing is that they're a living document and published in over 27 languages now. We're able to update and augment to help give our employees additional guidance through versioning. They also serve as the backbone of a training that's available to all Intel employees who wish to participate in social media on behalf of Intel.

Thanks for the plug! @bryanrhoads

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

toe — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:34:47 -0000

Its all about control... control of information, control of social behavior even beyond working hours. The real question is... who is controlling who?

Re: Should Your Company Have a Social Media Policy?

Kellie — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:02:17 -0000

Yes Yes Yes ! =)