Social media for salons & spas Part 2

Five guidelines of social media use

Last week, we discussed the importance of jumping in and embracing the enormous promotional potential that the social mediasphere offers. This week, I've put together some bullet points to consider when crafting your social media strategy. The following policy statements and guidelines are meant to assist you in your social media efforts, while protecting the interests and reputation of your company's brand.

Here are five guidelines for social media use:

Respect Copyright And Fair Use: When posting, be mindful of the copyright and intellectual property rights of others.

Terms Of Service: Social media sites have their own terms of service. Make sure you obey these terms of service or your account with the site may be suspended.

Respect and Ethics: Your company should encourage different viewpoints and opinions, and as a participant in social media, you should too. Be respectful of othersʼ viewpoints. If you disagree and would like to engage in a conversation, do so cordially, logically, and ethically.

Accuracy and Honesty: Double check facts and details before you post -- remember, once you post, it is out there. If there is a website you used to gather facts, provide the link for your readers to show accountability. Also, always write in the first person. If you make a mistake, admit it. Your followers will be more willing to forgive and forget if you are up front and quick with your correction. Maintain a high level of quality that exhibits superior grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Transparency and Disclosure: When posting to your blog, Twitter or Facebook, ask yourself if your content is a valued piece of information. There are millions of people and companies on the web. If you want to stand above the clutter, make sure you provide content that is exciting, engaging and stimulating.