9 ways business can manage social media risks

2016 has again seen its share of social media blunders. Instead of getting better at managing social media, it seems some companies continue to make avoidable mistakes. Whether it is Coca-Cola learning about geography the hard way or a $5 million promotional video confusing Rhode Island and Iceland, slip-ups persist.

So, how will your business manage the risks?

Whether social media impacts your organisation through internal or external sources, each has its own unique set of challenges and difficulties. Social media difficulties are widespread and 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 social media dangers.

9 valuable tips including the following:

1. Conduct a social media risk audit. This will assist in determining what your social media risks are likely to be and where they will come from.
2. Does your business have a social media policy? It is is a must and a policy is the most important strategy. Without it your business has no parameters for using social media as a business.
3. Does your organisation have a social media risk management plan? Ideally it is part of the social media policy and provides an approach of what to do when something goes wrong.
4. What kind of social media monitoring does your company implement? There is plenty of software that makes this task quite straightforward.
5. Cultivate engagement and collaboration on your social media platforms. When something goes wrong your audience is more likely to overlook the mistake if it doesn’t happen repeatedly.
6. Don’t treat your audience as brainless with the content you share. It will be the company that comes off second best.
7. Include the social media policy as part of a HR Management strategy. Have discipline and termination procedures for employees. A policy without consequences is not likely to be very effective.
8. Keep up to date and informed about 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 and can provide the employer with insights they never imaged.  Bring them along with you as they are part of the solution of utilising social media effectively and safely.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this blog or subscribe to our newsletter for more tips.

Take a look at our website or Facebook page for more information about how we can support your business to use social media safely.

Tags: social media mistakes • Social Media Policy • Social Media Risks • social media tips