Social Media Policy for Dummies (in 50 words)

A veritable buffet of social media products

Most firms I know have a social media policy big enough to choke a minke whale and quite rightly so because it provides all the legal cover they need but, will it actually have an effect in the real world?

Well if your social media users are prepared to spend the time to read it, inwardly digest and then commit it to memory then yes it will otherwise no it won’t. I think we both know which is more likely.

So here is a social media policy that works 100% of the time, is easy to remember and should be placed at the front of any official social media policy.

You’re in the pub surrounded by your best client, fiercest competitor, your boss, your co-workers, Rupert Murdoch and your mom. Anything you can say in front of these people that will not offend or be used against you (or your organisation) is safe to place on a social media site.  

Do feel free to send this to anybody using, or contemplating using, social media – I have found it resonates with most people and, despite its simplicity, does seem to make them more aware of the risks they face.

Enjoy social media responsibly.

A Frightfully Big Adventure

I had a thought this morning whilst reading the story of Paul Smith the “Twitchhiker” who used Twitter to travel from England to New Zealand for free by accepting the help and hospitality of his Twitter community. This all happened about 18 months ago and unfortunately I missed it but I can imagine part of the fun was following somebody in real-time who was going to experience some thrills and spills, it was almost like being there. I really like that “this week’s thrilling instalment” sort of thing myself, quite exciting really.

So here’s the thought then.  I, too, have just taken the first faltering steps on a journey but this one does not see me sleeping on people’s couches or on Greyhound buses.  This is more a journey of change: I am about to develop, populate and sell a brand new web based concept (well it’s probably not new – nothing is really is it) centred around my coaching practice, Flair.  At the moment I don’t even have a website having decommissioned mine last week as a punishment for not keeping up with the changes I have made to my business, so I will need to create everything pretty much from scratch.

Why should this be of interest to anybody?  Well if I can do it anybody can, I am bound to take loads of wrong turns, I will need help, support and advice, I don’t have much budget available and I am also trying to run a real-world coaching business at the same time.  I will have to become fully conversant with the technology, understand video, get into social marketing and get people to buy into what I am doing, which is probably the most scary part.

If anybody has any thoughts I would like to hear them.