I wrote on this topic a week or so ago over at ReadPyxl, my company’s blog. If you like, check out the original post.

Earlier this month, Social Media Club Knoxville hosted a panel discussion on social media liability, ethics and policy. The topic, which drew a lot of interest locally, is a big issue for numerous organizations, including some of our larger clients.

As companies of all sizes start getting involved in social media, it’s becoming increasingly more important for many of them to create a social media policy for their employees.

After all, what happens when an employee does something stupid on a social network? It could affect the company’s brand (in terms of PR and/or legally)! Just take a look at the Pizza Kitchen case here locally. While it was the owner of the restaurant who allegedly posted the defamatory comments, had he been informed about social media liability, he may have thought twice about his posts. But instead, the company has a legal mess on its hands.

So what goes in to creating a social media policy?

Of course, social media policy is not one size fits all. All companies are different and thus, they require different social media guidelines.

That said, there are a few key similarities I would include in most policies…

First things first, not everyone truly understands social media. It’s still fairly new, so it’s important to start by explaining the new media and also explaining why the policy at hand exists. It’s also important to keep the policy positive overall. Often, if you tell someone what they can’t do…they get angry. Rather, it’s important to focus on the positive and employees will be more likely to understand and comply.

Another very general guideline involves transparency and authenticity. If you’re representing a company on Twitter, Facebook, a blog, etc., it’s important to acknowledge that. Trust is very important on the social web, and is also important to a brand’s customers. Plus, with new FTC guidelines in place for bloggers, you could come under fire if you don’t disclose your affiliation when writing about your company, its clients, etc.

What I would consider one of the most important guidelines, however, is that employees need to use their judgment. (This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised.) Be sure employees know that while it is perfectly okay to share your opinion online, it needs to be done in a professional manner. Avoid anything that’s demeaning to others or that could come off as hot-headed. It’s also important to stay informed of the laws in place and avoid making any statements that could be considered defamatory.

As I said, social media policies are not one size fits all! These are just a few key ideas that I think around important to any organization. A social media policy needs to be thought out and needs to fit the organization that it is written for. If you need help, let Pyxl know : )

What do you think? What social media policies have you heard of? Do you agree or disagree with them? Let’s chat…