9 tips to managing social media risks

As an employer, how prepared are you to deal with the difficulties and complexities of social media?

Social media’s opportunities to connect, publicise messages and promote your brand are immense. With this comes an element of risk.  Whether your business uses social media or doesn’t engage at all, the risks are still real and present for every business.

As the usage of hand held devices grows, immediate responses become more important. It doesn’t matter whether social media creates internal or external problems; each has its own unique set of challenges and difficulties.

Social media’s complexities are widespread and far reaching. There is no one fits all approach to managing social media risks. However, a proactive approach which incorporates a number of strategies is the most effective way to managing these drawbacks.

Here are 9 tips to managing your business social media risks:

1. Conduct a social media risk audit. This will assist in determining what your social media risks are likely to be and where they are likely to come from.
2. Does your workplace have a social media policy? This is a must and helps to set parameters around what is acceptable / not acceptable comments and behaviour for your employees.
3. Include employees as part of the social media policy development process. Work with them so that there is a ‘win-win’ for all.
4. Avoid mandatory and rigid language when writing policies and procedures. This alienates employees as social media is such a part of their daily lives.
5. Social media training and education is essential so it is vital that employers educate employees about what the organisation’s parameters, issues and difficulties are. Once employees understand these, they are more likely to get on board and support the company they work.
6. Include the social media policy as part of a HR Management strategy. Have discipline and termination procedures. A policy without consequences is not likely to be very effective.
7. Make sure employees are aware of these procedures and they sign off on it.
8. Keep up to date and informed around technology changes, changes in the law and best working practices.
9. Most importantly collaborate with employees on social media. They understand and use the technology constantly providing the employer with different insights.

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