Whilst the benefits of using social networking for business are now being fully realized, there are still some concerns about whether social networking decreases or increases employee productivity and whether employee postings can damage a company’s reputation.
So do business owners and employees need to follow social networking rules and etiquette? If there are rules agreed from the start and users practice online etiquette, can social networking increase employee effectiveness?
Rules of Social Networking For Business
Social networking has typically been thought of as no rules apply, no holds barred type of socializing. Networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace have opened the doors to inappropriate postings by many, including business professionals.
The more reserved business sites such as LinkedIn and Ryze tend to be less personal and more professional. However, regardless of the social site used, to be a viable, useable, effective business tool, do usage rules have to be implemented.
Rules may vary according to the type of social networking site and/or the type of company. A few universal rules that you might like to consider or comment on include:
- The number of friends. Too many or too few friends on one’s friends list could be damaging. Three hundred friends have been determined to be the optimal number – more and you appear desperate – less and you become less socially attractive.
- Only accept friends that relate to business or who are also professionals.
- Socialize on the site several times a week versus hourly or daily. When comment threads are started and an online conversation is taking place, tracking it hourly or throughout the day may be appropriate. Posting just for the sake of posting is a big time waster.
- Try to respond to comments and posts as quickly as possible without breaking the rules above.
Should rules be set for the types of graphics and photos that company users can post? For business use, photographs of a conference, training days, special events, community actions, or volunteer activity are always acceptable, but should the business owner or employee also be able to add personal pictures of their everyday lives?
Social Networking Etiquette
In addition to the above rules, is practicing proper etiquette online as important as face-to-face etiquette? Keeping in mind when the post is completed, it belongs to the cyberspace world and cannot be taken back. So the following items may apply:
- First and foremost, should you resist the urge to mention religious beliefs and identities?
- Do postings and comments have to be on the positive side and refrain from criticizing the company, the boss, or persons who have posted comments?
- Leave out any and all profanity, biases, or discriminatory remarks?
- Only use symbols and abbreviations when they are certain to be interpreted properly? For example, LOL has become a highly recognizable abbreviation for laugh out loud are these professional and acceptable to use?
Legalize for Social Networking
It is also a good idea to keep in mind some of the legal pitfalls of social networking. How should a business avoid any legal ramifications?
I have added some suggestions, that a business owner or employee should abstain from, please comment and add any additional ones that you feel are important.
- Defame or damage someone’s reputation.
- Disclose someone’s secrets.
- Avoid making comments or suggestions that would end up physically harming someone.
- Do not post comments that infringe on trademarks or copyrights.
Online is Real-Time
In the early days of online social networks, most users just wanted to reach out and socialize. With today’s online environments, more people are using social networks for business purposes and as such should socially acceptable rules and etiquette be adhered to?
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please add them to the comments section below. Thank you very much.
Hi Harvey,
I run a small business and although I do understand your stand point on the importance of social networking and certainly do see the need for businesses to adopt this form of advertising in their marketing mix, I must say (and I am sure I am not alone), as a business, I lose hours upon hours every week through my staff using facebook and the like during working hours. Statistically, businesses accross the globe are losing millions of pounds in downtime through its staff using office time to socialise with their friends on Facebook etc.
My comment isn’t all bad though as I did come up with a solution. If you can’t beat them, join them
My solution was to turn this downtime into a positive forward step for my company. I got my staff to build a facebook and twitter page for my business. I now organise regular meetings with my staff to discuss what content we should post onto our facebook and Twitter pages and find that now, they are less occupied with their own pages and more occupied with pushing our business pages. No more downtime
Regards
Colin Andrews
Hi Colin,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that employee social media over use is a problem for businesses. That is why I believe it could be important to set down guidelines at the very start.
I think your solution is a very good idea and one many other businesses could adopt. I hope very much that it is paying off for you.
Regards
Harvey