Below is a simple template you can use to develop your company’s social media guidelines. This template includes essential sections that cover employee expectations, confidentiality, and the proper use of company resources, but feel free to adjust it based on your organization’s specific needs. While employees have a right to express themselves online, this section clarifies how personal social media activity can still reflect on the employer. For example, if an employee lists the company in their LinkedIn bio, they must uphold certain standards even on personal posts. This helps protect the business from indirect negative exposure while maintaining freedom of speech.

 

Roll Out And Implement The Policy For Periodic Reviews

 

Establishing a legacy system will avoid confusion over old or lost logins and passwords when individuals inherit the account(s). Social media admins of divisions and programs should keep a list of the passwords for their accounts. All accounts should have a shared cuny.edu email address, username and password so the account(s) is not tied to a personal email address or to a specific individual. These guidelines are for anyone in the Central Office starting an official CUNY account, including but not limited to divisions, programs and members of leadership. UMBC now has a Social Media Advisory Group that can provide feedback, training, and supports for social media administrators across campus.

 

Social Media Policy Example

 

The assignment of certain duties to a temporary or student employee must be approved in advance by the Department of Marketing Communications. To request access to a social media account, please fill out the “Request to add an administrator to a social media account” form on the Office of Marketing and Communications website. How restrictive your company’s social media policy should be depends on the industry in which you operate. If you think your employees have access to inside information about secret products and services your company may be developing, then the policy might need to be more restrictive. On the other hand, there are some industries where you might be able to give your employees a bit more freedom. Intel’s guidelines are designed to empower employees to engage in social media while protecting the company’s interests and to encourage the use of these platforms as a force for goodness and positivity.

 

By incorporating these elements into your social media brand guide, you can establish a solid foundation for building and maintaining a strong and cohesive brand presence across all digital platforms. Consistent adherence to your brand guidelines will help strengthen brand recognition, foster audience trust and loyalty, and drive meaningful engagement and conversions on social media. This social media policy applies to all [company name] employees, including paid interns, volunteers, contractors, and seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees.

 

In many companies, social media use is not just limited to marketing or customer interaction but extends to employee engagement and recruitment. For this reason, it is important for businesses to implement clear social media guidelines that encourage responsible use, protect their brand, and align with broader business objectives. Your social media guidelines should outline how to behave on social media in a way that’s positive and safe. The guidelines can apply to both your employees’ personal and professional social media presence. Whether replying to a customer query on Instagram or sharing a LinkedIn update, consistent communication is key to trust. A Social Media Policy helps ensure that every employee or representative uses the correct tone, messaging style, and escalation procedures.