Guite Up

For a 30-something who has been involved in social media for over a decade, defining the very thin, fuzzy line between work and personal use on social networks is common sense. But for others, it’s a big enough concern to keep them off (and sometimes skeptical) of the social web.

You might also be dealing with the other extreme. Those who’ve grown up with social media and mobile phones are used to overexposure. For these people, the line might not exist.

You can start to put everyone at ease by creating your own social media guidelines. 
Here are some tips to get you started:

• Start with your gut. If you are the one who deals with social media the most at your organization, chances are you know the most about best practices and the biggest hurdles you are facing. Create a simple list of these.
• Assemble a diverse team. What is obvious to you might not be obvious to somebody else. Ask people from different departments to give input. Don’t forget to include HR and traditional media folks.
• Look at examples from others. Give more attention to the organizations that are most like yours.
• Decide what kind of tone you want to use. For instance, someone dealing with a work culture that is resistant to social media will want to approach this differently than someone dealing with a more embracing work culture.
• Provide very specific examples. People outside or new to this space will need lots of context to make sense of it all.

For a more in-depth look at how we came up with social media guidelines for Environmental Defense Fund employees, check out Kira Marchenese’s blog.