Picture this: It’s a quiet evening, and you’re leisurely scrolling through your favorite brand’s social media feed.
Suddenly, a jarring post catches your eye, and you think, “Whoa, did they really post that?” While this could be a purposeful use of social media, most brands don’t want this to happen without good reason.
That’s exactly why every brand needs a compass in the Wild West of the internet: social media guidelines. We’ll walk you through the blueprint for crafting an impeccable online presence below—so your brand can spend more time social networking and less time minimizing social media damage.
What are social media guidelines?
Social media guidelines are a set of best practices and recommendations crafted by businesses and organizations. They help employees learn how to present themselves and interact on social media platforms. These guidelines ensure:
- Consistent branding
- Protected reputations
- Positive online interactions
- Privacy, security, and respect
They often cover areas such as behavior, content sharing, and engagement strategies. In essence, these rules for social media are your brand’s style guide for online conduct.
But these policies are more than just surface-level words—they are your lifeline to meaningful connections on social media. It’s why businesses of all sizes, from globally recognized giants to your corner coffee shop, have them in place.
Benefits of having social media guidelines for employees
Now that we’ve dug into what social media guidelines are and what they mean for employees and entire brands, you may ask, “Why bother?” After all, if you haven’t had to deal with any social media snafus yet, it may seem like a lot of work for little reward.
The fact is that, beyond just dodging silly digital mishaps, there’s a heap of advantages waiting for brands savvy enough to set these guidelines. Here are a few of the main benefits to consider.
Promoting brand diversity
In the melting pot of the internet, a brand’s voice should reflect all its colors. It’s about making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued. Guidelines help orchestrate this, ensuring that while individual voices sing, they create a harmonious melody that champions diversity.
Following brand diversity social media guidelines helps employees portray their company values and prioritize representation on social media accounts—two great things for any brand.
Improving employee advocacy
Your employees aren’t just staff—they’re potential brand spokespeople. A tweet from John in accounting about a company win can ripple out further than an official brand announcement. It feels genuine and personal.
However, what if John in accounting doesn’t really know the basics of social media etiquette? Then his simple tweet could contain proprietary information, private customer data, or even defamatory remarks. Yikes.
Creating guidelines for employees to follow can ease this concern, helping to turn employees into passionate brand ambassadors.
Boosting brand identity
Every brand dreams of being iconic. Think of Apple’s apple or Nike’s swoosh. That dream extends to online recognition. Consistency in voice, tone, and content creates an unmistakable digital signature that makes up your brand identity.
Guidelines serve as the choreographer for this dance by blending employee brands and professional brands into one identity within branded social media posts. No matter who creates content for the company accounts (or on behalf of the brand), you’ll have cohesiveness across all social media channels.
Providing brand, employee, and business protection
In the digital realm, one misstep can spiral. Social media guidelines act as both armor and early warning systems. They safeguard the brand reputation, ensure employees dodge potential pitfalls (or online bullies), and keep the looming shadow of legal troubles at bay.
Amplifying employee training
Remember that social media guidelines aren’t just about dos and don’ts—they’re about empowerment. With the right tools and training, employees can become digital maestros, amplifying brand presence.
Once your team members understand your social media policy, they can create stronger, more engaging social media posts that’ll help your brand in the long run.
What sections should your social media policy include?
Creating a policy means building a roadmap, ensuring every post, like, and share aligns with your brand’s heart and soul. Truthfully, every policy will look a little different depending on your brand’s identity and the type of content you plan to share.
But there are some basics that every social media policy should include. Here are some of the most important sections to consider.
Explanation of intent
Start with the why. This isn’t bureaucracy—it’s the foundation of your strategy. If you want to run a successful social media campaign, it starts with this foundation.
Employees can’t start building roadmaps and creating content based on guidelines without understanding why those guidelines exist. Who does it cover? Why is it essential? Explaining the why upfront ensures everyone’s on the same page.
Personal accounts
It’s important to remember that, in an age of screenshots, there’s no taking back posted content on social media sites. It’s not about restriction but guidance.
Brands may encourage employees to have a personal account and a professional account, especially if they often post on behalf of the business. Think of it like having different outfits for work and play—both authentic but fitting for their context.
No matter what, maintaining a positive social media presence on and off the clock is important for any employee who wants to support their brand.
Security and disclosure
Every post carries weight. Beyond PR blunders, there are genuine security risks. From confidential information leaks to accidental revelations, the digital domain is full of potential pitfalls.
Guidelines can help your business avoid legal or security concerns, but they also provide a baseline for employees to work from. Everyone should know how to create good passwords, not share personal information, and other basic online safety rules. This set of guidelines keeps employees safe and helps your brand maintain a positive image.
And if your brand shares a lot of links on social media, then Bitly’s your friend. With best-in-class Link Management security, you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Social media harassment
The internet isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Trolls lurk under digital bridges. Employees need to know their rights and how to identify online harassment on all social accounts. Plus, you should ensure employees know where to go if they can’t handle the bullies themselves.
Inclusivity and non-biased posts
Every tweet, post, or share should echo the brand’s commitment to inclusivity. With guidelines, brands can ensure that they not only talk the talk but walk the walk by fostering an environment of respect and representation.
Whether it’s through hashtags, information shares, or visual content, brands need a policy to ensure all posts follow the same social code of conduct (beyond just common sense).
Accuracy in posts
In the era of fake news, authenticity is the gold standard. It doesn’t matter if you’re a social media manager or a social media intern—getting the facts right is essential.
When a brand posts something that isn’t accurate, credibility and trustworthiness go out the window. Fact-checking and only using reliable sources should be clear requirements in your social media policy.
Implement your strategic social media policy with Bitly’s tools
When it’s all said and done, even the best social media policy is nothing without expert-level content. And every good piece of content needs the right tools to make sure it performs as expected.
Bitly isn’t just a platform—it’s a partner. Your brand can use the power of Bitly’s Link Management solution to supercharge your online strategy, ensuring each link, post, and interaction resonates with the right people.
Ready to elevate your brand’s digital presence? Start working with Bitly today, and watch the magic happen.