Social networks have created a socializing frenzy including one-to-one conversations between a brand and its target users. Mediums such as Facebook or Twitter provide businesses, customers and employees a channel to interact in real-time. But the relative openness of these channels portrays a risk to companies since the nature of communication can either be negative or positive and it cannot be controlled. Organizations must have a well-thought out strategy to share content and also to direct the conversations to a more positive mode. Social media has thinned out the line between personal and professional which is why businesses that choose to socialize are at a risk. But these channels can work as a mantra to effective customer engagement only if used the right way. Here are six steps that will help organizations practice safe social media.
1. Create and Impose a Social Media Policy
Brand conversations are going to happen all the time coming from within your staff or even your customers. A social media policy can help you control such conversations by limiting the staff by designation and allowing participation in online conversations. The policy must clearly define what employees can say online and whether they are allowed to represent the organization at all the social mediums. Also according to the policy you must let the social networks know how your company wants to use social media in order to control the flow of information.
2. Create a process for consistent response
Since the creation of content can be used wisely to encourage predictable answers on social mediums then the replies must be crafted accordingly. The right response action will generate the best results. It is essential to maintain the positive image of the organization while documenting a response for any situation. Having a proper workflow of consistent response can save you from a public relations meltdown.
3. Your Social Network Administrators are Important
Make sure you have a policy or a tool that ensures you to grant access to others while keeping administrative rights protected and also that employees must not leave the organization with the access to the company’s social media property.
4. Create general awareness among your employees
It is essential to educate or train employees about policies, social media engagement etc in order to reduce a public relations meltdown risk. Employees must be continuously trained regarding social media and also the risks involved. This will curb the fear factor involved with social media.
5. When in doubt, disclose all
In order to build effective social media you must let your customers trust you. Influencing the primary influencers like bloggers or consumer advocacy groups in order to target the right market is essential to overall success. Being honest and transparent about work is the key to build trust with customers.
6. Listen to the Social chatter but Respond as well
Being aware of all the social media chatter is important but responding on a timely basis is the key to successful social media marketing. This helps to diffuse a number of damaging situations.
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Danny
February 12, 2012 at 8:48 am
Good tips. It’s important as a company to not approach social media without a plan. If you just do it half half it will not do much for you. You need to uttilize it in a thought through way to have maximum results.
Prakash
February 12, 2012 at 7:01 pm
creating a process for consistent response is really nice point……social media is the main part of everyone’s life…
Thanks for sharing it…….
Kevin
February 13, 2012 at 6:23 am
For any business to be successful, proper planning and managemant is essential. Also for this marketing must be done with the right approach. And in this social media plays important role. But social media can be proved beneficial only if utilized in a right approach. Proper planning of marketing on social media will help in gaining the desired success. Even I plan for marketing of my business on social media with the help of marketing team. And this has proved very effective for my business. The tips which you have sorted out are very good.
Steve
February 13, 2012 at 6:58 am
Good point about responsing to social media. You need to show that you’re interested in those who answer, and responding to thier comments is the best variant. Such interaction is profitable for you.
Tracyann0312
February 13, 2012 at 8:17 am
Great tips. It is important to practice safe social media so that you will not create different problems in the company. Utilizing is needed because social media is part of almost everyone’s life.
Stella
February 14, 2012 at 3:22 am
if you want to run your business in a good way.you have to do proper planing and management.the above information is most important who wants to take their business at top so i must appreciate the article
Nichole
February 14, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Hi Freida,
This are great tips in social media. Sometimes because of too much freedom in social media people sometimes do things that are not appropriate. Thanks for posting this.
Thomas
February 15, 2012 at 6:25 am
As the use of the social media is greatly increasing, it is attracting many risky issues. So I think it is better to take precautionary steps instead of mending things later. Even I utilize social media for my business but at the same time I make sure it is well secured. And I think your tips are very good to be assured of safety of business while using social media. Thanks for sharing them!
Renny
February 15, 2012 at 8:15 am
The tips which you have listed here are completely secured to run the business with the help of social media. Making employees aware of the social media tools and the risks attached with them. Social media upgrades day by day and as new innovations enter, new risks also enter. Employees must be educated about these innovations to run business successfully. This will also help to run the business efficiently with the changing times.
chanikacha
February 15, 2012 at 10:21 am
Nowadays, Social media is one of the best website to promote your products. It is also use to drive more traffic to your blog.