Upcoming Webinar on Government Social Media Policies

Don't miss this upcoming free webinar on government social media policies:

Title:  What are You Forgetting in your Government Social Media Policy?

Date/Time:  March 18, 2015, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Central Time

Panelists:  

• Julie Tappendorf, Ancel Glink
• Luke Stowe, City of Evanston, Illinois
• Anil Chawla, ArchiveSocial
• Kristy Dalton, GovGirl and GSMCON Conference Director (Moderator)

Key Takeaways:

• Minimize risk for your agency & avoid a social media #fail
• Essential elements to your comment/monitoring policy & other legal issues
• Public record requirements: real life examples and legal case studies

This is a great prelude to the upcoming 2015 Government Social Media Conference & Expo in April, in Reno, Nevada.

Webinar registration information is here.

From GovTech.com: 4 Common Mistakes in Government Social Media Policies

Check out the new article posted on govtech.com called "4 Common Mistakes in Government Social Media Policies," written by Kristy Dalton.  The article includes "best practices" for developing a government social media policy by pointing out some common issues that are often overlooked, including the following:

1.  Tone Deaf

The article suggests that governments be careful about the tone of the policy - it recommends that it be helpful, encouraging and optimistic, and to ensure that it not send a message that the agency is opposed to social media.

2.  Excluding Elected Officials

Most social media policies cover government employees, but the article suggests that policies also cover elected officials.  

3.  Dated Upon Rollout

The article notes that policies that specifically name social media platforms may become outdated as new platforms (Snapchat) are introduced so frequently.

4.  Keeping it Under Wraps

According to the article, most agencies do not publish their social media policies - she suggest posting it on the government's website.  At the very least, make sure any part of the policy that addresses public interaction (comment policy, for example) be made public.

Making the Switch to Feedblitz

I've been blogging for a little over two years on Municipal Minute and about a year on this blog, Strategically Social.  All bloggers understand the importance of "getting the word out," and I'm no exception.  Shortly after starting Municipal Minute, I began using Feedburner to "push" or deliver my blog posts to email subscribers.  Feedburner was easy to set up and once I input my scheduling preferences, it didn't require anything more from me.  

 

Everything worked quite well until a month or two ago, when I noticed that I was not getting regular email updates from my own blogs.  Although I was posting daily on Municipal Minute and weekly on Strategically Social, at least once or twice a week, I was not getting the blog post delivered via email.  I reached out to a few of my email subscribers and learned that some were experiencing the same inconsistency while others continued to receive all email updates.  I couldn't find any solution on Feedburner's forums nor was Feedburner responding to my requests for help.  It was time to change.

 

After much research, I chose to switch to Feedblitz.  I must not be the only former Feedburner customer to make that choice, because Feedblitz has put together a "Feedburner to Feedblitz" migration guide that walks you through each step of the process of moving your subscribers over to the new service.  I hit a few snags with the integration process (first, I had to learn what migration and integration meant - I'm a lawyer, not a techie after all) but Feedblitz support was so helpful - customer support promptly responded to every email I sent with helpful tips on getting everything working.  Within 30 minutes, I had all of my email subscribers for both blogs switched over and within a day or two most of my RSS subscribers are coming over too.

 

So, all in all, this process has been fairly painless.  There are a few things about Feedblitz that I'm not crazy about, but unreliable service is no longer an issue fortunately.  First, you have to pay for Feedblitz where Feedburner is a free service (some would say you get what you pay for).  Second, those who subscribe by RSS directly through Feedburner cannot be automatically migrated over to Feedblitz - you have to "encourage" them to switch over.  Three, you can only link one Twitter account to your blog feed, meaning that you may still have to use a third party service like Tweetfeed for multiple Twitter accounts.  On the other hand, Feedblitz provides the user with a lot more data than Feedburner.  My first blog post using Feedblitz was delivered seamlessly.  You can send messages to your email subscribers through Feedblitz without posting on your blog.   

 

I'm still figuring it all out, and it may take a week or two to get used to the new service and to learn all of the new features. 

 

 

Virtual Manners: Is it Ok to Unfriend, Ignore, Delete, or Untag?

Many in the millennial generation (and probably some Gen-X'ers) may be unfamiliar with the name Emily Post. Baby boomers, on the other hand, grew up with her advice on good manners in any situation. "What would Emily Post do?" was an often-heard response when an individual questioned how he or she should react or communicate in an unfamiliar situation. As old-fashioned as the phrase "good manners" may seem, they are as important today as they were many years ago, and maybe even more so with the increased use of technology for communications.

 

Even Emily Post (through her family business) recognizes that we communicate, socialize, interact, and conduct our business and social lives differently today because of changes in technology. She has created a social networking presence on her website and social media sites where she Tweets, Facebooks, and blogs about good manners. The emilypost.com website contains a wealth of information on social networking and manners, with the following tagline: "Virtual manners are a must when navigating these networks, however, especially because your interactions may be viewed by others."

 

One post that is particularly interesting and helpful for business people is titled "Rejecting a Client's "Friend" Request." This is a sticky issue for many who aren't sure how to navigate this issue. So, what would Emily Post do? Her advice is as follows:

Your new client just asked to "friend" you. You prefer not to mix your work and social lives, but you don't want to risk hurting a budding business relationship. Should you turn down her invitation to network?

 

Yes. It's wise to keep work and play separate. Maintain a profile on a business-oriented site, such as LinkedIn or Biznik, so you can send her a "friend" request. When you do, say, "This is where I stay in touch with work associates. I hope you'll like connecting here."

Emily Post also tells us that it is perfectly acceptable to unfriend, unfollow, or ignore someone that makes you uncomfortable. In her words, it's okay to:

Ignore a friend request.

Untag yourself from a photo or ask someone to remove a photo of you from their page.

Delete a friend’s comment on your page.

Unfriend someone whose presence on your page makes you uncomfortable.

Ignore quizzes, groups, and widely marketed event requests.

Use privacy settings to restrict access to your page

Some days it can feel as if our lives have been taken over by social networking, as we all spend more time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and blogs. Every morning, we receive new requests to friend and follow new people and share and like new content. Navigating these requests in a careful and thoughtful way, using "virtual manners," can be difficult, even for the most savvy social networker. In any situation where you question whether you are posting appropriate content or making the right decision in accepting a friend or follow request, ask yourself one question: "What would Emily Post do?" It may save you the trouble of having to unfriend, ignore, delete, or restrict someone or something in the future.

 

 

City of Chicago Offers Free Social Media Boot Camp For Businesses

The City of Chicago will host a free Social Media Boot Camp throughout August to help entrepreneurs and business owners maximize social media strategies. The sessions will be held weekly, each Friday morning in August starting at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall.  The free boot camp sessions include the following topics:

8/2 - Twitter for the Technology Challenged

“What is Twitter? How do I use it for my business? What is a hashtag? I am so confused!” These are questions and a statement that is probably swirling around in your head. It is OK. You are not alone. Twitter is confusing for even some of the technology advanced. It is more about a mentality, than it is about being technology savvy. Anyone can do it. You just have to understand how it works. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of Twitter, how to use it effectively for your business, and how to get in the press by using it.

8/9 - How to Use LinkedIn Effectively to Grow Your Business

Online networking is a very powerful resource that any small business can use to expand their business influence. At this hands-on workshop you will learn how to use LinkedIn to open and customize your personal and business page, as well as many tips and tricks you can use to build a growing strong network. Unleash the power of social media and start enjoying the benefits.

8/16  - Facebook and Business Do Mix

Learn how to maximize the tools that Facebook offers to maximize your business needs. Whether you sell a product or provide a service, learn some tricks that can cost effectively give your business positive results.

8/23 - Your Business Website for Smartphone Users: Optimize it or Create a Business App?

A majority of business websites look completely different on Smartphones compared to desktop computers – why is this? Learn how to optimize your website for Smartphone users and answer the biggest question, do we need an App? The answer might surprise you.

8/30 - Increase Your Sales by Using YouTube

Video is a powerful tool to help you build relationships with prospects and customers and enable them to learn about your company’s solution. Did you know that digital video consumption grew 30% year over year in Q4 2012? Learn about integrating YouTube content into your marketing and selling process. You don’t even have to produce video to use YouTube to grow your business. This workshop will discuss integrating third party content into your internet environment, tips on creating and using simple content, and working with a content creator to position your expertise.

You can obtain more information about the City's Social Media Boot Camp on the City of Chicago's website.

Getting Started: Social Media 101

Businesses, large and small, are learning that social media marketing and promotion is crucial in today's market, especially with the younger demographic.  But, maybe your business hasn't jumped on the bandwagon yet.  Maybe it relies solely on "tried and true" marketing methods such as print media, business cards, newsletters, and the like.  If your company's reluctance to dip its toes in the social media marketing pool is because it doesn't know where to start, here are a few tips:

 

1.  Pick the Right Social Media Platform

 

Just because "all" companies are on Facebook doesn't mean that's the right platform for your business.  There is no one-size-fits all approach to selecting the appropriate social media platform or platforms.  If you are just starting out, set aside an hour or so on your calendar to visit three social media sites to see what they offer.  Check out what your competitors are doing, especially those who have been successfully using social media for at least a year or more.  Talk to your peers about their experience on a variety of sites - what works and what doesn't.  Then, sign up for one site, and stick with it for a few months before choosing additional platforms. 

 

2.  Adopt a Social Media Policy

 

Every business should have a social media policy in place that addresses two issues:  (1) employee usage of social media and (2) the company's social media activities.  You can read more about what should go into a social media policy by revisiting this blog post titled "9 Tips for Drafting an Employee Social Media Policy." 

 

3.  Start with LinkedIn

 

LinkedIn is a great starting point for professionals and companies to start.  It's a great place for businesses and professionals to network and "connect" with others without a lot of the more personal content encountered on Facebook and Twitter.  It's also easy to set up a LinkedIn profile and start "connecting."  Businesses and professionals can immediately find users to connect with through their email contact lists, and join groups and organizations that broaden their networks. 

 

Do You Use Twitter Lists? 6 Simple Steps to Creating Lists

Twitter lists can be a very useful way to control the stream of information, or tweets, that you receive on your Twitter feed, particularly if you follow a wide variety of people, groups, or organizations.  You can organize Twitter users into lists so you can more easily monitor different networks of friends, organizations, and interests.  Setting up a list allows you to view only the stream of Tweets from people included in that list.  For example, you could create a list called "News" and that would allow you to quickly review any Tweets from news organizations you might follow without having to scroll through your entire feed.  You don't even need to follow a person or organization to add them to a list.

Lists are easy to create, and it is even easier to add users.

Step 1:  Click on the "me" icon on the top of your Twitter home page.

Step 2: Select "Lists" in the box in the upper left hand corner.

Step 3:  Select "Create list."


Step 4:  A new window will open.  You can enter the name of your list, a description (optional), and indicate whether the list is public (anyone on Twitter can follow the list) or private (only you can access the list).

Step 5:  To add a Twitter user to a list, select a user, then select the downward arrow on the icon on the right.  Select "add or remove from lists" from the pull-down menu.

Step 6:  You can then add a person to a list by selecting the empty box next to the desired list.  A checkmark will appear in the box.  Then, close the window to save. 

8 Tips for Using Twitter More Effectively

Twitter can be a great addition to your social media marketing program.  The primary benefit of Twitter is that it allows users to easily share information about themselves and their business without the time-management and third party content concerns often associated with some other social media sites such as Facebook.  However, like any other marketing program, Twitter is only effective if you are an active participant.  The following are 8 tips for active Twitter use:

1.  To maintain or establish an audience of loyal followers, you should tweet frequently.  A Twitter account associated with a business or company without frequent tweets may create the image that the business is not active.  This activity can include retweets of other Twitter users' tweets that might be relevant to your own followers. 

 

2.  You should seek out and follow other Twitter accounts in your industry.  This can generate increased awareness of your Twitter account, particularly when those industries have an established Twitter base of followers with shared interests.

 

3.  You should also seek out and follow Twitter accounts owned by current clients or customers.  These users can be your best supporters by retweeting your tweets to other users, who may then follow you on Twitter.

 

4.  You should upload your business logo for your company Twitter account, rather than use the picture of one of your employees, to increase your profile and brand on social media. 

 

5.  You should consider customizing your Twitter background/theme to reflect your business or company. 

 

6.  You should place a link to your Twitter account on your website, blog, and other online sites to increase cross-traffic between your social media sites.  You might also include links to Twitter and your other social media accounts in your e-mail signature.

 

7.  You should designate one employee to tweet on behalf of the company or to oversee and review other employees' tweets before they are sent out, to ensure that the company message is being accurately and appropriately presented. 

 

8.  Don't forget to insert a written profile of your company in the "bio" secction of your account profile, with links to your company website and any required industry disclaimers.

 

Different Rules for Government Use of Social Media

I just returned from presenting two sessions on local governments and social media at the Arkansas Municipal League conference in Hot Springs. The first session was directed to municipal officers, and the second to municipal attorneys. I started both presentations with a summary of the benefits of government use of social media.  It's not hard to sell local governments on the benefits of social media. They recognize that social media is a cost-effective and efficient way to disseminate information and engage citizens in government business.  Municipalities, school districts, park districts, and other local governments are taking to social media like gangbusters - posting about local events on Facebook, tweeting about road closures, and uploading their meetings to YouTube. 

 

So, why do I feel like the bad guy after I present a session to local government officials and attorneys about social media?  

 

Probably because the bulk of my presentation (and all of the questions from the audience) deal with the legal and ethical issues with government use of social media.  Everybody enjoys hearing the "pros" about social media, but it's not as much fun to hear the "cons."  I happen to love potato chips, and wish I could eat them every day.  But, like everyone else, I have heard the "cons" about eating too much junk food.  Well, sometimes I feel like the "junk food police" for social media, telling government officials all the bad things that can happen if they eat too many potato chips (i.e., conduct themselves inappropriately on social media).   

 

Just like corporate and individual users, governments encounter many of the same legal and ethical issues when they engage in social media activities, including copyrights, individual privacy, employee usage and monitoring, among others. There are, however, a number of issues that are unique to governments, such as First Amendment protections, compliance with Open Meetings and Freedom of Information laws, and record retention requirements, just to name a few.  

 

An individual who doesn't like a particular comment on their Facebook page can simply delete it.  A municipality, on the other hand, must consider whether that comment is constitutionally protected speech before taking any action that could be considered censorship.   Members of a corporate board aren't concerned about triggering statutory "meeting" requirements when they participate in an online discussion, unlike their government board counterparts who could inadvertently trigger these requirements simply by posting comments to Facebook.  Governments must also ensure that their constituents have equal access to government information, including information provided electronically and digitally.  The rules are simply different for local governments engaging in social media communications, making it that much more important that municipal officials and employees understand what those rules are, so they can adjust their social media activities and conduct accordingly.

 

In a perfect world, a local government would carefully draft a social media policy to deal with employee monitoring and usage, administration of the sites, terms of use for commenters and other users before they establish a presence on a social media site.  That same local government would also conduct training session for municipal officers, department heads, and employees about appropriate use of social media before they "go live."  That doesn't always happen, of course.  It's not too late to get a policy on the books, and train your employees. 

Your Grandma (And Your Boss) May Be Looking, So Think Before Oversharing

I still remember my first time on social media.  My kids were tweens, and they were both on MySpace - remember MySpace?  As a parent, I thought I should at least take a look at what they were doing online - there were so many scary stories about online predators - so I filled out a profile and became the oldest person on MySpace.  Ok, maybe not the oldest, but certainly not part of MySpace's usual demographic.  I checked in a few times so I could see what the kids were up to, and when I was satisfied with their conduct, I stopped checking. 

 

Fast forward 10 years, and now my kids are in their early twenties.  They are still social networking, but have moved on to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vine.  And, so have I.  I no longer monitor their activities.  They are adults, after all.  They no longer need parental supervision.  They know how to conduct themselves on social media.  Right?

 

My kids are part of the generation I like to call the  "overshare" generation. This group broadcasts everything they do, like, want, and feel online.  Their audience is made up of their friends, family, and fellow students.  It is also made up of co-workers, bosses, and future bosses, but I'm not sure this generation always remembers that.  

 

Consider a few real-life examples of social media posts that recently made the news that make me scratch my head and wonder "what were they thinking?":

• A young woman posted that some days she wished she would be fired so she could just stay at home.  (She was fired the very next day - see, wishes really do come true).

• A 911 operator posted a copy of a computer screen containing information about a 911 caller's complaint about a medical emergency, along with the caller's name, address, and phone number, along with the caption "Can't make this up."  (His boss fired him for violating company policy, and a court upheld his dismissal).

• A police chief responded to a woman's post on Facebook about a woman's right to choose by calling the woman a "piece of sh*t scum sucking baby killing b***h," among other names. (He is facing disciplinary action).

• A few days ago, I posted a story about the fast food restaurant employee who posted a picture of himself in uniform licking the food served to customers.  (ick).

• A number of hospital workers posted pictures to Facebook of a dying patient who had arrived in the ER with multiple stab wounds.  (The hospital fired four of the employees, and disciplined three). 

All of these individuals were fired or disciplined for their online activities.  None of these activities were protected by the First Amendment (which protects restrictions on certain types of speech by government actions) or by labor laws (which protect labor-related concerted activities between co-workers).  No, these activities were simply "oversharing" in a very personal and/or inappropriate manner.  We see it every day, and not just in the news like all of these stories, but on our own social media sites.  We might shake our heads and wonder why someone would post that ("that" being something very private or embarassing or inappropriate).  

 

Getting back to my kids and their generation.  What I try to make them understand is that there is no privacy on the Internet, and that the Internet is forever.  Before they post anything on social media, they should ask themselves whether it would be ok if their co-workers, bosses, future bosses, parents, or even grandparents see it.   That's not a bad tip for all of us. 

Retaining Government Records in the Era of Social Media

Governments (cities, counties, states) are increasingly using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, among others, to disseminate information and engage their constituents. Unlike private individuals and groups, however, governments have to comply with all sorts of regulations and policies that are intended to promote government transparency.

 

For example, every state has enacted laws that require government bodies to retain public records and release them upon request, subject to a variety of exemptions.  The Florida Attorney General’s Office considers information on government social networking sites as subject to record retention laws because they are created for “a public purpose and connection with the transaction of the official business of the city.”  Public bodies should be aware that their own state laws may require these records to be retained indefinitely or that permission must be sought prior to destroying the records. 

In addition to the legal issues, the preservation of online government records also presents practical challenges for which there are few standards. Governments have little or no control over the third party hosts of these sites.  Government officials are also understandably concerned about the time, staffing, and money required to retain past social networking interactions. 

 

Governments might consider following one of the following approaches (or a combination thereof) in complying with open record laws.

At minimum, government officials should retain periodic screenshots of their Facebook or Twitter pages, especially if they posted the comments.  The benefit of this option is that it is a cost-effective way to retain these records.  The drawbacks are that it places a considerable demand on staff time and physical resources, requiring government officials and their support staff to adhere to a regular schedule of printing out screen shots.  Also, at a time when most municipalities are trying to reduce their consumption and storage of paper, local governments are forced to once again create physical filing space for screen captures.

Another option is for governments to rely on social networking companies (i.e. Facebook) to archive the online communications.  This perhaps is the most cost-effective and efficient means of preserving a government’s social media interactions with the least amount of demand on staff time.  Unfortunately, a private company’s record retention policy may not comply with open record laws leaving governments open for potential violations.  Moreover, the government has little or no control over the third-party "host" as to what is being retained and for how long. 

A third alternative is for governments to use archival subscription services, such as Archive-It, which was launched in 2006 by the Internet Archives, a non-profit organization.  According to Archive-It, governments collect, catalog, and manage their collection of social networking sites with “content stored and hosted through the Internet Archives data centers.”  Four cities (San Francisco, Seattle, Raleigh, and Cary, North Carolina) digitally archive their Facebook or multiple Twitter feeds at least once a month.  By default, all Archive-It collections are publicly available and accessible, but subscribers have the option of making their entire collection or parts of their collection private within a specific IP address.  Archived pages display a highlighted bar at the top of the screen with a date and timestamp of when the page was archived, a warning to users that the information on screen may be out of date, and a link to all versions of the archived page.

If a government ends its Archive-It subscription, the collection remains as is, but local officials always have the option of adding or removing content from the public site.  Moreover, public bodies can request that copies of data be sent to them for an additional fee.  Through Archive-It, and other similar programs, governments can create and customize a record retention system that is in compliance with its state’s open record laws.  The drawback is that this service may be out of reach for rural or smaller communities where cost, training, and possibly updating the city’s technological infrastructure present potential roadblocks to implementation.

How To Use LinkedIn More Effectively

Most professionals recognize the value in setting up a LinkedIn profile, but are you using LinkedIn effectively?  Here are a handful of tips for getting the most out of your LinkedIn experience:

 

1.  Use a Professional Profile Photo. 

Save the pictures of your puppy or kids for your Facebook profile, and make sure you are using a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile.  Ask your employer if you can use the headshot from your company website if you have one or spend a little money and have one taken. 

 

2.  Fill in the Details.

Make sure you fill in your background, skills, education, experience, and publications.  Use links and upload documents to make it easier for potential employers, clients, or customers to learn more about you.  Link to your website and any other professional social media site (blog, company Twitter or Facebook) but avoid linking to personal social media sites.  Think about LinkedIn being an extension of your resume. 

 

3.   Connect.
LinkedIn is about connections, so make them. Invite people you recently met at a conference or discussed business with at your kids' school to connect with you. Make sure your clients or customers are connections - they are your best source of recommendations or endorsements. LinkedIn is not a popularity contest, so you can (and should) be a little more choosy in your connections - remember, this is a professional networking site. 

 

4.  Join Groups.

If you aren't joining groups in your field, you may be missing out on making valuable new connections.  LinkedIn will provide you with recommendations of groups based on your profile and summary information in "Groups You May Like."  But, you may need to dig a little deeper.  Search for organizations you already belong to and see if they have a LinkedIn group - they probably do.  Join your company group.  See what groups your connections belong to and join those.  

 

5.  Keep it Current.

Every couple of months, or immediately after a significant professional change (i.e., new job, promotion, publication), review and update your profile with new skills, activities, publications, etc.  In addition to keeping your profile current, it also keeps your connections informed of new activities.  

3 Reasons Why You May Not Be Using Social Media Professionally

More than half of American adults maintain a social media presence on one or more social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.  The statistics for the younger demographic is even higher.  Most social media users are on these sites for pleasure -- keeping up with friends and family and posting photos and videos are the most popular social media activities.  Social networking is not just for fun, though. If you aren't using social media to market yourself, your product, or your business, you may be missing a key marketing tool (and demographic). 

 

It isn't difficult to set up a professional social media presence - many of you probably have a LinkedIn profile where you filled in the standard profile and occasionally get connection notifications.  This is a great place to start, but there is so much more out there that you may not be aware of or think you don't have the knowledge or time to  explore. 

There are any number of reasons why you may not yet have taken the leap into more interactive marketing on social networking sites.  I've touched on three of them below:
 

I don't know how.

 

If you are a true novice, meaning you don't yet have a Facebook profile and have no idea what a tweet is, I recommend you take "baby steps" before you jump into a professional marketing program.  Start by setting up a Facebook page - it is easy to set up a profile, and you can start interacting with friends and family members almost immediately.  It is as easy as filling out a profile, setting up a password, uploading a profile picture (not required, but recommended if you want people to find you!), and typing in your first post. 

 

For those of you who already have some experience in social media on a personal level (Facebook, maybe even Twitter), you already have the tools you need.  Using a social media site for business reasons is technically the same as using it personally, so you don't need any special classes or training.  I do recommend that you keep your personal and professional social media presence separate if you can. Remember that you are trying to market yourself or your business to potential clients or customers.  They may not be interested in your recent vacation to wine country, or your St. Patrick's Day activities, and your political opinions could limit your marketing pool.  Keep it separate folks!

 

I don't know where to start.

 

If you have a LinkedIn profile, you have already started.  LinkedIn is the professional social networking site.  It's easy to set up a standard profile and start networking with colleagues and others with similar professional interests.  The key is to go beyond the "fill in the blank" profile, and use LinkedIn's full potential by joining groups, posting about articles you've read (or better yet, that you have written), seminars you attend, and other activities that your connections may be interested in and that show your expertise and interests. 

 

LinkedIn is just the first step. There are many other ways to social network in a business context. 

 

If you tweet personally, think about setting up a professional Twitter account to link to news stories and articles of interest in your field. 

 

If 140 characters isn't enough, set up a blog where you can write in more detail about what interests you and what professional activities you are engaging in (publications, seminars).  But, be careful not to be "all over the board" on your blog.  You want to focus on a particular topic to draw continued readership.  Even more important, make sure you write about something that interests you.  Too many blogs are started with the best intentions, and then go stale because the author loses interest.  Keep your blog current - post at least once each week, and preferably every day.  Which leads to reason #3....

 

I don't have time to keep up with it.

 

If you are going to use social media professionally, be in it for the long haul.  If you are looking for a new job or new opportunities, you need to think about social media as a necessity - it is a very important tool in marketing yourself to a new company or clients and customers.  Think about your social media site as an extension of your resume.  The standard rule of thumb is that resumes should be no more than one page - yet, how can anyone sell themselves in one page.  If you provide a link on your resume to your LinkedIn profile or professional blog, you have, in essence, extended your resume well beyond that one page.  Your social media site could provide links to projects you have worked on, publications, and other events and activities. Any one of these links could be what leads to your being hired or making the right connection. 

 

So, we all agree social media marketing is an important tool.  The question I hear most frequently is "how much time do I need to devote to social networking activities?"  In my case, I maintain two blogs (Strategically Social on social media and Municipal Minute on local government law), a Municipal Minute Twitter page that links to both blogs, and a LinkedIn profile.  I also update my firm's website.  That's a lot of social networking.  I find I'm able to keep my networking sites current in about an hour each day.  Whenever I read an interesting case, article, law, post, or other publication, I bookmark it, print it, or email it to myself so I always have new material to write about.  Cross-linking between all of the social media sites is very important, because you will have different readership (connections, fans, friends, etc.) among the various sites.  If one hour each day seems too much, spend an hour or two on the weekend to put together a few posts that you can schedule for publication throughout the week.  

6 Social Media Tips for Job Candidates

Spring means graduation time, and that means a lot of people are applying for a new job. Making a good first impression is critical.  Everybody knows they need to read and re-read their resume or CV for grammatical errors and typos.  Most will make sure they have the proper interview attire (new suit, of course).  Unfortunately, many candidates don't give a second (or first, for that matter) thought to their social media sites. Whether you are a first-time job candidate or an experienced employee thinking about changing jobs or even careers, after you press your suit and proof-read your resume, you'd better take a long, hard look at your social media sites and make sure you aren't giving off the wrong impression.

 

It should not come as a surprise to any job candidate that a potential employer is going to look at your social media sites.  Some states (including Illinois, Maryland, and others) prohibit employers from demanding a job candidate to turn over their social media passwords.  That does not, however, prohibit that same employer from looking at anything and everything that is in the public domain.  So, unless you have a Fort Knox level of security set on all of your social media profiles, the information you post (and others post about you), is probably going to be reviewed by potential employers. 
 

Here are a few tips for job candidates:
 

1.  Those pictures on Facebook of you and your buddies doing keg stands at Little 500?  Delete them (especially if you aren't of legal drinking age!).  Any pictures that might make your grandmother blush should be similarly removed.  
 

2.  Set your privacy settings so people cannot tag you in posts, at least temporarily during the job search.  You can't control what your friends post on their own walls, but you can try to control what ends up on your own.
 

3.  Read your tweets with the eye of a potential employer.  It is great to have strong opinions and convictions, and nobody is saying you can't express them.  But, understand that your strong opinions could limit your potential hiring pool. 
 

4.  Set yourself apart from other job candidates by using social media to "market" yourself.  You want to be a journalist? Set up a blog to post your articles, papers, short stories, etc.  Musician?  Upload your original music to a music-sharing website like soundcloud. 
 

5.  Update your profiles to put in more detail about your education and job experience, as well as your interests.  Did you win any awards while in school?  Treat your social media profiles as an extension of your resume.  Consider setting up a LinkedIn profile to focus on your professional achievements. 
 

6.  After you've done your own careful review and scrubbing, have a trusted friend or family member review your sites and give you feedback on other areas that need to be addressed. 

9 Tips for Drafting a Social Media Employee Policy

If you are an employer, you have probably dealt with (or will deal with) employees' use of social media.  This might include excessive use of social media by employees at work, negative comments made by employees about their job or their boss, release of confidential information about the company or its customers/clients, and a variety of other situations that might require employer action.  Most of you probably already have in place a policy for employee use of company computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones and the like.  But, have you reviewed your policy lately to make sure it covers social media use?
 

A social media policy should clearly establish guidelines and boundaries so employees can anticipate and understand their companies' expectations and restrictions about their use of social media.  

 

Although each employer should create a social media policy tailored to the particular employer’s workplace, the following are a few tips for employee use policies:    

1.  The policy should communicate to employees whether social media use in the workplace will be prohibited, monitored, or allowed.  If allowed, the policy should provide guidelines as to what constitutes reasonable use.

2.  The policy should be careful not to excessively restrict the content of employee social media postings to the extent that “protected concerted activity” among the company’s employees would be prohibited. For example, a social media policy should not ban “inappropriate discussions” about the company, management, working conditions, or coworkers that would be considered protected speech in another form or forum.

3.  The policy should caution employees that they have no expectation of privacy while using the Internet on employer equipment.

4.  If employees will be monitored, the policy should inform employees of that monitoring.

5.  The policy might also require employees who identify themselves as employees of a particular government or company to post a disclaimer that any postings or blogs are solely the opinion of the employee and not the employer.

6.  Employees should be advised that they should not use the company logo, seal, trademark, or other symbol without written consent of the administrator.

7.  The policy might prohibit the posting of pictures of employees in uniform or on duty.

8.  The policy should also address the protection of confidential and company information and information about customers or clients.

9.  Finally, all employees should be required to sign a written acknowledgment that they have received, have read, understand, and agree to comply with the social media policy.