| Do you have a social media policy for your | | | | your employees to be able to answer those |
| business? There have been many cases of | | | | types of questions themselves or if you want |
| employees getting fired because of social media. | | | | one employee to be the designated spokesperson |
| This could have been avoided if the business | | | | for the company. Whatever you decide, make |
| owner had a clear cut social networking policy in | | | | sure to communicate this to all staff so there is |
| place and communicated that policy to the staff. | | | | no confusion. |
| While you might not have a large staff now, it is | | | | What employees are allowed to post on online |
| a good idea to put an online networking policy in | | | | networking sites. |
| place as soon as possible. Make sure that | | | | Once again this is a matter of protecting your |
| everyone is aware of the social networking policy | | | | company image. Your employees are a |
| when they are first hired. Here are some things | | | | representative of you. You need to figure out |
| to consider when you are coming up with the | | | | what kind of information you want your |
| social media policy for your company. | | | | employees to post on social media. Are they |
| What your employees are allowed to say about | | | | allowed to reveal your company name on their |
| the company. | | | | personal profiles? Can they post pictures of |
| I am not suggesting that you totally censor your | | | | themselves at work? Is it okay for them to post |
| employees. However, you do have a certain public | | | | pictures of themselves drinking alcohol? These |
| image to uphold. You have to decide early on | | | | might seem trivial, but it is important to let your |
| what you are going to allow your employees to | | | | employees know beforehand what they can post |
| say about the company on social networking | | | | rather than trying to discipline them when they |
| sites. This is definitely something that needs to be | | | | cause bad publicity for the company. |
| outlined in the handbook you create about your | | | | Having a social media policy is important for you |
| company's social media policy. | | | | and your employees. It helps your employees to |
| Is there a particular point person to send media | | | | know exactly what they can and can't do with |
| requests to? | | | | their social media profiles. It could also protect you |
| Your employees may run into members of the | | | | from future lawsuits since the policy will be spelled |
| media while they are networking. The journalist | | | | out in black and white. Now stop reading this |
| may want to ask them some questions about | | | | article and create a social media policy for your |
| your company. You have to decide if you want | | | | company. |