5 ways employers can manage social media threats

Many things can and do go wrong for business on social media. The risks extend beyond reputational damage and a few disgruntled customers on Facebook. Most businesses though are unprepared with the complexities of social media.

As it can impact organisations through both internal and external sources there is no one fits all approach to managing social media risks. An approach which incorporates a number of strategies is the most effective.

The following 5 key strategies are important to include in your approach.

Social media policy

A policy is the lynchpin in any organisation to protecting a business. Even if your organisation does not use social media it is certain that your employees and customers do.  A policy assists to set parameters around what is acceptable and not acceptable behaviour for all stakeholders inside and outside of the workplace.  It is important that employees are part of the process of developing a policy.

Social media risk audit

Whether your business has been using social media for years or is about to start a social media risk audit is valuable. It assists in determining what your social media risks are and where they will likely to come from.  Regularly assessing social media risks is important so the audit is a helpful tool to use whenever updating your policy.

Regulation and monitoring

It is crucial to include the social media policy as part of a HR Management Strategy which has discipline and termination procedures for employees. A policy without consequences is unlikely to be very effective.  Making employees aware of these procedures is also necessary so they can sign off on it.  Part of the process also involves monitoring what is being said about your brand so that you are aware of any potential issues that could arise.

Training and education

Social media training and education for employees is part on the ongoing process of having a social media policy. Helping employees to understand what is expected of them is important to have employees on board and working with you.

Build your online reputation

It’s not enough to have a social media presence, business needs to be actively involved and build their credibility. Through developing online networks and getting involved in conversations, it allows a business to build an audience and build trust.  This type of community if developed on genuine trust and understanding is very important should something go wrong for a business.

One of the most fundamental mistakes business makes is they fail to engage in the process of managing social media risks. It is, however, the role of each organisation to plan, manage, guide and lead for the effective and safe use of social media inside and outside of the workplace.

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Tags: social Media • social media audit • Social Media Policy • Social Media Risks