Developing a Social Media Policy

By Beth J. Bates, New Media Special Correspondent

I've had several discussions recently with both colleagues and clients about the importance of a social media policy. For smaller companies, creating a policy may not be as critical, but at some point, if you are participating in social media you may want to have a policy. Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

• Should your company have a social media policy?
• What should this policy include?
• Should your social media policy be a BIG DEAL?

Companies are doing their best to draft social media policies. Some are common sense guidelines and others are stringent rules, but all are paving the way for other businesses to follow suit. Since the nature of social media is, well, being social, it's difficult to know how strict your policies should be. These organizations have implemented social media policies and offer them publicly:

• Mayo Clinic
• IBM
• The US Air Force: Armed with social media
• Intel
• BBC – Personal use of Social Networking and other third party websites
• Associated Press – New AP 'Social Media' Policy Draws Union Fire

So take some time to think about how your social media efforts effect your staff and if needed, create a social media policy that suits your team, efforts and customers.

Beth J. Bates consults with Hinge on social media tool selection and strategy and helps its clients find effective ways to leverage these new mediums to meet business goals.