Posting User Social Media Guidelines

Beth Kanter, who I’ve written about before (1)(2)(3), recently shared a copy of the AARP’s Facebook Community Guidelines. These are a set of guidelines letting people know what they may and may not post on the AARP Facebook page(s). It’s short, simple, and straightforward. As you are considering social media guidelines for your agency, are you considering how the person on the other end uses social media as it relates to you, e.g. your official agency Facebook page?

Here’s the AARP Facebook Community Guidelines:
“Welcome to AARP’s official Facebook fan page! Here we’ll share breaking news, interesting stories and the latest member benefits. We want to keep our Facebook page an open forum, but we’re also a family friendly group, so please keep comments and wall posts clean. We want you to tell us what’s on your mind, but if it falls into any of the categories below, we’ll have to remove it: – We do not allow graphic, obscene, explicit or racial comments or submissions nor do we allow comments that are abusive, hateful or intended to defame anyone or any organization. – We do not allow third party solicitations or advertisements. This includes promotion or endorsement of any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. Similarly, we do not allow attempts to defame or defraud any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. – We do not allow comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity. – You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided. Also, the appearance of external links on this page does not constitute official endorsement on behalf of AARP or our members. Whew! Now that all THAT is out of the way, let’s get to know each other. Post, share and tell us what you’d like to see more of from AARP.”

Social Media Policy Guidelines for Nonprofits

I was fortunate enough to serve on a committee of AFP International that brought together some social media gurus to hash out guidelines that nonprofit organizations can use to craft their own social media policies. These guidelines focus on social media from a fundraiser’s point of view but they are easy to tweak to your own needs and a great starting point if you are starting from scratch.

The official version of the social media guidelines document is online and available for downloading in either a one-page summary or a full version with detailed guidelines and examples. I highly recommend reviewing the document to see how it can benefit your agency.

With the release of these guidelines I wanted to share 7 reasons why you should have a social media policy.

7. It should fit seamlessly into your agency’s technology, human resource and marketing policies.

6. Your staff are given guidelines on how to interact with customers in a user-friendly way.

5. You are better able to engage your customers, volunteers, donors, and the community at large.

4. Social media policies provide details on how to interact with your customers

3. Do you really want the summer college intern speaking on your behalf in an official capacity?

2. If you read this blog regularly, you know that social media is how people interact online with each other in real time, how they share information, pictures and videos.

1. It’s just good common sense.

Do you already have a social media policy that you’d like to share? What are some examples of social media policies that you like? Please feel free to share in the comments.