Social Media Best Practices and Social Monitoring 

Social media best practices for corporations can be implemented to manage the risks that come with the challenging political landscape of 2023. Today, the public has a low tolerance for poorly formed or controversial opinions, and many large corporate entities are one tweet away from sparking outrage and creating a number of online and in-person risks. The many employees that showcase your corporate logo on their social profiles or represent your brand online are often tied to a company’s online reputation. Sound social media practices ultimately protect your company from real risk, including digital protests and boycotts, and sometimes workplace security issues.

Implementing company-wide social media best practices begins with a company’s human resource department. Employers have a right to limit and enforce policies regarding social media use while on the job site, but the use of social media while off the clock cannot be dictated. Inappropriate social media use, on and off the job site poses serious risks and harm to a corporate brand or image.

The Best Social Media Best Practices for Employees

Creating clear and concise guidelines serve as a healthy reminder of how employees should conduct themselves online while representing your company.

Consider implementing these social media policies for employees and ensure your staff represents your brand appropriately.

Implement Guidelines That Encourage Respect

HR should outline that social media use should always be respectful at the workplace or during an employee’s personal time. Social posts rooted in hate or discrimination are inappropriate and will result in consequences, including termination. Hold your staff accountable for their actions at all times, and ensure they understand that their words and social profiles represent their employer.

Opinions Never Represent the Entire Corporation

The topics of religion, politics, and inflation have a tendency to come up online, and while a company can’t legally dictate that their staff not comment on these topics online, there are several ways to mitigate this risk. 

One of the easiest ways to protect potential backlash from an employee’s social media posts or opinions is to strongly encourage them to state that their views do not reflect those of the company. A simple one-line of text added to a staff member’s Twitter bio that communicates to the digital world that their opinions are their own can work to ensure that a company isn’t attacked for an employee’s opinion.

Less is Always More

It can be tempting for an employee to engage in conflict online, especially when someone slanders or leaves a negative Google review about their employer. Communicate that such complicated matters are to be left with executive leaders and the designated corporate communicator within the company. Create policies that outline the process for reporting negative reviews, along with guidelines on how your staff should not fan the flames of conflict online.

Implement Social Media Training Programs

Educate your employees about the risks of social media use and the potential consequences of poor online behavior. Corporate culture should embrace social media but simultaneously promote sound practices. Have your HR department conduct seminars with staff, and as an executive, lead by example with your own social media use. 

Ensure that all staff understands that one social post can spark outrage among the general public and even result in protests at your workplace that can put others at risk.

Consider Monitoring the Social Media Use of Your Staff

Working alongside a third-party reputation management company can actively work to hold your employees accountable for their misbehavior online. Social media monitoring services provided by AFIMAC can tap into the public conversations about your brand and even the public posts of your staff. These tools act as a discreet way of monitoring your employee’s online chatter without ever breaking any privacy laws. With the right information, senior leaders can connect with staff that may pose online threats with their social media use while monitoring the public and predicting potential backlash against your company. 

Social Media Best Practices and Social Listening by AFIMAC

Social listening tools and monitoring social media can help manage risk in today’s world. Protect your corporate brand and tap into the conversations about your business on social platforms alongside AFIMAC. As a company, AFIMAC remains keenly aware of the risks that present themselves when social media use is handled poorly. Many of the results from social listening tools can spot threats against your business and help to ensure your workforce represents your brand on and off the clock.

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