Here's a list of Guidelines I use to train my clients on how to use social media wisely.

1. Social Media *Rules
or *Guidelines
Social Media Training and Advice – Social
Status
Copyright 2012 Social Status

2. As you are probably aware; social media has taken over!
In the past 10 years; most businesses have a Facebook page, a blog, a Twitter
account as well as presences on Instgram, Pinterest, photo sharing sites, have
listed their companies on LinkedIn, in social networks and have inserted share
buttons on all their marketing collateral.
While I don't really like using the word Rules; I have noticed that some
corporations have just jumped into social media without preparing a policy, or a
content strategy or have not trained their employees on how to respond to
people on social media or how to handle customer service enquiries (or fails).
I also believe that we all have to tick the box to agree to each site's terms and
conditions; but some of the terms and conditions are often ignored and leave a
company/business without access to their account or having to deal with issues
on various social networks.

3. Social Media Guidelines:
1. Set up a social media policy - here are many examples -
http://socialmediatoday.com/davefleet/151761/57-social-media-
policy-examples-and-resources - use these to adjust a policy for
your specific workplace
2. Discuss and set up social media guidelines for your employees -
http://www.bluewiremedia.com.au/free-social-media-guidelines-template
3. Use a social media crisis plan and train your staff on how to handle a
mishap - http://socialmediatoday.com/chrissyme/298509/five-social-
media-must-haves-crisis
4. Decide why you are using social media in the first place - this will help
with your strategy and your content - then set up a marketing/content
strategy which suits your employees and workplace

4. Social Media Guidelines:
5. Read each site's terms and conditions and adhere to their rules.
6. Choose your accounts - use the ones that your clients/customers/
industries are using such as Twitter, Facebook, a blog platform,
Google+, YouTube but also look at using other sites such as photo
sharing sites such as Pinterest, Flickr, Instgram (Google for
information about thousands of other sites you can use for your
business)
7. Remember to start small! Each account has to be active and
attended to (on a daily basis)

5. Social Media Guidelines:
8. Who is going to be attending to each account? What is his/her
responsibility?
9. The community manager (or person responsible) HAS to check each
account at least twice a day (early mornings and evenings) to ensure that
questions are answered, customer service enquiries have been attended to,
inappropriate content (such as people posting pictures or spam comments) is
removed AND ensure that you are engaging - i.e. thanking people for
shares/ReTweets, liking a comment (on Facebook) or simply show that you
are present and listening
10. Who makes executive decisions? If a manager/supervisor needs to
confirm an action - a discussion has to take place around what to do if they
are unavailable. You CANNOT leave something inappropriate on your social
media account/s which could harm your brand.
11. Monitoring the account/s also has to take place over the weekends - who
is responsible for weekend and after hours monitoring?

6. Now let's talk content:
1. Use your company site/blog to promote, share and spread user
generated content directly from your brand
2. Are you going to hire a copywriter or is there someone in-house
who is prepared to write blog posts, updates, Tweets and source
images, videos etc.?
3. Are you finding content from elsewhere and using it as inspiration?
If yes, you HAVE to source links back to the original content.
4. Are you using images with your content (which is highly
recommended)? Ensure that you link back to the original source or
name the source (e.g source:CarrotCreative)

7. Social Media Content:
5. Prior to sharing any information online, check the link
6. Only share, link to and use links which are from trusted
sources. Ensure that there is no inappropriate subject matter or
adverts on the links you are sharing - generally when people click
to open a link, they may view other content on the site - so check,
check, check!
7. When ReTweeting information on Twitter - check the bio/profile,
the Tweets, the name of the person whose links, quotes or
information you're sharing with your followers BEFORE driving
content. I cannot stress how vital it is to check, check, check!
8. Check that the sites/videos/images to are secure and safe - I
use Wot - http://www.mywot.com/ for this purpose.

8. Use Social Media Content to:
9. Build trust with your followers/fans/peers when using, finding, promoting,
sharing or driving content - the content you use is affiliated with your brand
(So I repeat check, check, check!)
10. Seek advice. Ask for help. Enquire about training - this will benefit
yourself, your brand and your employees. (We are all learning here, even
me!)

9. And finally Social Media Etiquette:
1. Google before you Tweet, post, blog or share. Check your
resources and try to find the original source of any content you
use - this will help you build trust with your peers.
2. Be nice - and if you can't than go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee,
drink a glass of water - rather than responding inappropriately
3. If you do not agree with something and you really want to Tweet,
post or blog your viewpoint - think very carefully - is it necessary?
Will it change anything? If you believe it will than disagree
respectfully without launching a personal attack.
4. Be diplomatic. You don't have to agree with everything, like
everything, choose to share everything - but build diplomatic
relationships with others anyway.

10. Social Media Etiquette:
5. Try not to constantly ask others to follow you, like you, ReTweet
you, share your content - build a relationship and trust with your
peers/fans/followers to build an organic sharing relationship instead
(which takes time and effort)
6. Shout out, compliment, acknowledge good practices you see
online - I am a huge fan of social good and this type of behaviour will
make your day so much nicer!
7. Try not to constantly talk about your brand/business on your
Facebook business page or Twitter account - use those sites to
engage with others and exchange information.

11. Social Media Etiquette:
8. Use your business blog to inform, educate and talk about your
business. Try to respond to comments and find other blogs in your
industry to build relationship with other Bloggers. And attend a
Blogging event (or any type of networking event) - they're fun and
you will learn a lot!
9. Be kind. Answer queries, respond to comments, find answers and
share information. When you see an opportunity to help someone
else - take the chance!
10. Read everything you can; blog posts, news, Facebook updates,
surveys, white papers, eBooks, Tweets, newsletters, manuals - the
more you read - the more inspiration you will have to generate your
own content.

12. Remember To:
1. Ensure that your social media account/s can be used/viewed on mobile
platforms
2. Make use of share buttons (on your website, on the bottom of each blog
post and on other platforms
3. Use email marketing to connect with your clients and customers
And don’t forget to - Make your Own Path!
Source: Douglas Wilson

13. Always Remember That:
Social media is global and embraces each unique individual; you can
decide how you are going to use social media to represent
yourself/your brand. You can be formal, chatty, a curator of information,
a helpful sharer, a promoter of social media good, a brilliant sales
person, a quiet observer, an industrious entrepreneur - there is no
better set of tools to finding your own path as long as you are learning
and having a bit of fun along the way.
“Be authentic and organic. It can’t be forced or it won’t work. And most
importantly, have fun.” - Richard Branson on social media

14. Brought to you by Social Status – Social Media
Training and Advice
Source:justonemomtrying
Social Status
www.wix.com/ebbyeryan/socialstatus
Email: ebbyeryan@gmail.com