3-minute read
Most people use social media frequently, and it’s also likely to be part of your business’s marketing strategy.
That’s why it’s important to have a social media policy that outlines how employees should use company and personal social accounts while working for you.
Read on for social media policy examples and an overview of what you need to include.
A social media policy is an important document that all businesses should have. Your company’s social media policy will outline your expectations when it comes to use of business social media accounts, as well as personal use that may affect the business.
Every business’s social media policy will be different depending on what sector they operate in and how many employees they have. However, all policies will include information on key topics such as posting etiquette and account security.
It’s crucial that businesses are proactive and have a social media policy in place from the outset, rather than publishing one in response to an incident such as a copyright infringement.
A social media policy for employees can provide your business with valuable protection against the reputational risks of a poorly-timed or badly-worded message, as well as the legal risks of sharing sensitive information.
It can also help you to:
Social media has lots of benefits for employers, such as improving brand recognition, generating leads, and communicating with customers.
Having a robust social media policy in the workplace can help your business to enjoy these benefits while reducing the impact of online risks.
At the same time, staff are more likely to post positively about your business, known as employee advocacy, if they know where they stand.
Most social media policies will have sections on business and personal use of social media, as well as guidelines on security.
It may also be worthwhile including the following details:
There are more details on what to include in some of the key sections below.
This section can give an overview of the company’s approach to social media, with guidelines for employees who’ll be posting on your business accounts.
Here are some of the main points you’ll need to cover:
It’s important that staff know your expectations when it comes to using their personal accounts both professionally and in their own time.
These are some of things you’ll need to include:
Another important aspect of your workplace social media policy will be making sure that employees follow security guidelines.
Here are some of the main points you could include:
Your company’s social media policy should be clear, concise, and easy to read.
When you’re putting the policy together, make sure you get input from employees across the business, including those with expertise in social media and legal matters.
Once the policy is ready, share it with your employees and make sure they can access it easily.
It’s important to review your social media policy regularly, taking into account new platforms and security risks, as well as the growth of your business.
As well as using social media to promote their brand, many small businesses now use it to sell their products and services directly to customers.
If your business is thinking about selling via social media, we’ve put together some top tips for how to use Facebook and Instagram.
Read our how-to guides to get started:
As one of the UK's biggest business insurance providers, we specialise in public liability insurance and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?
Start your quoteWritten by
Conor Shilling
Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years’ experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. A trained journalist, Conor’s previous experience includes writing for several leading online property trade publications. Conor has worked at Simply Business as a Copywriter for three years, specialising in the buy-to-let market, landlords, and small business finance.
We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always take professional advice. Read our full disclaimer
Keep up to date with Simply Business. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media.
Subscribe to our newsletter6th Floor99 Gresham StreetLondonEC2V 7NG
Northampton 900900 Pavilion DriveNorthamptonNN4 7RG
© Copyright 2024 Simply Business. All Rights Reserved. Simply Business is a trading name of Xbridge Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Registration No: 313348). Xbridge Limited (No: 3967717) has its registered office at 6th Floor, 99 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7NG.