5 ways to bullet-proof your business from social media dangers

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it” – Henry Ford

When it comes to social media this quote by Henry Ford could not be more appropriate. Thinking before you post is so important whether for individuals or business.

Does your business use social media?

For the majority the answer is yes.

And here is the duality of using social media. On the one hand it provides tremendous opportunities for branding or communication; and on the other hand comes numerous risks – legal, reputational or operational, from a variety of sources inside and outside of the business.

So organisations need to be prepared, proactive and savvy. These 5 tips will leave your business better equipped.

Have a company policy on social media

Regardless of the size of your business social media is an important part of your communication and marketing strategy and a policy is essential. It provides guidelines for your employees about social media expectations; as well as forming part of a best practice framework for engaging in social media and protecting your business.

There is no such thing as ‘private’

In my book, The Business of Being Social: how to harness the untapped power of social media – I interviewed Katie Miller, a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Administrative Law – about whether social media is a public or private space or both? Her answer demonstrates the complexities for both employer and employee.

“Social media sites are an excellent example of a public and private space. They are public, in the sense that a wide range of people can gain access to information posted on social media sites. However, they are also private to the extent that the user can, and chooses to, limit access to the information.”

Respect the law

There are a number of legal ramifications where social media is concerned. Whether it is confidentiality issues, copyright infringement or potential unfair dismissal claims these can leave organisations legally and financially exposed.  Everyone – businesses and individuals – need to comply with the law and always remember that the law applies equally offline and online.

Apologise if you make a mistake

This is one of the hardest things for businesses to do on social media when something goes wrong. In some instances business tends to look to the delete button or simply ignore the situation.  However this will not only draw attention to the mistake, it makes the business look like they are trying to hide something. If there are negative comments about your business online, it is the responsibility of that business to investigate whether the comments are genuine.  And then do something about it starting with apologising on the social media platform where the negative comment was posted.

Hackers and criminals are part of social media

Criminals actively target social media sites. Most workplaces have interconnected computer systems and any viruses from social media activity can damage the IT infrastructure of a business, particularly SMEs whose IT budgets are not significant.  Social media is considered a weak link for business and according to Damien Manuel – Chief Information Security Officer, Australia and New Zealand of Blue Coat who I interviewed in my book – there are 4 main reasons why: trust, information disclosure, easy exchange of files and laziness.

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