Social Media Rules of Engagement

Posted: November 09, 2010

Rules for engaging in social media. If anyone doubts that social media is a discipline, one requiring training and professionalism to conduct profitably, Smiley's principles are timely correctives.

Mike Smiley, of PAPA Advertising, calls them guidelines. We call them rules -- for engaging in social media. That's because Smiley's principles outline a relational stance that's crucial to maintain in conducting online dialogues -- honest, responsive, non-defensive and compliant.

Here they are (Smiley states them, of course, in more detail):

Be transparent – Be forthright about where you work and who your are.
Be honest – Never represent your organization in a false or misleading way.
Be a contributor – Use social media to open a dialogue.
Be compliant – Observe the corporate rules you're working under.
Be the expert – Provide perspectives born of professional experience.
Be civil – Keep the discussion polite despite possibly differing opinions.
Be diplomatic – Be correct and well-founded in writing about competitors.
Be discreet – Don't comment on legal matters, litigation or parties related to them.
Be cognizant – Be well-informed about your company and don't comment on what might be a crisis situation.
Be cautious – Protect yourself, your privacy and your company's confidential information.

If anyone doubts that social media is a discipline, one requiring training and professionalism to conduct profitably, Smiley's principles are timely correctives.

“These 10 guidelines are just the beginning,” Smiley notes. “They can be used as a starting point for your social media campaign, but remember it’s all about what’s right for you and your company.”

Again, we'd call them rules -- ones for learning and growing in a new media setting.

Biz Tip Source: Talent Zoo

Author: Doug Bedell