SOCIAL MEDIA, RISKS, AND POLICIES FOR ASSOCIATIONS

Leslie T. White, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRMCroydon Consulting, LLC

February 17, 2010

Association Network Exchange

http://bit.ly/tmoC0

Clarity over control . . .

If everyone involved knows the purpose of the organization’s social media initiatives – if each individual is clear about his or her role in achieving that purpose and the parameters in which they can participate – those social media initiatives will be that much more successful from the start.

Risk Assessment

Identify the risks Analyze the risks Prioritize

Risk Mitigation

Adopt policies Monitor the social web so you know what

people are saying Provide education on legal issues Provide education on social media

principles Update insurance coverages

Building Social Media Capacity

Monitor social web Develop social media strategy Assess & mitigate risks Appropriate insurance coverage Adopt policies & guidelines Interdepartmental social media

collaboration Education

Policy Characteristics

Built on trust Practical Designed to educate Without absolutes In plain language Friendly Consistent Prepare for mistakes Clear about process

Writing Tips

Pick one audience Refer to other organizational policies Forget about the tools Write more DO’s than DON’Ts Copy from folks who are making it work

Key Components

Preamble Main guidelines Conclusion

Main Guidelines

Personal responsibility Applicable organizational policies Confidential & proprietary information Intellectual property & link love Community & value Authenticity & transparency Exercise good judgment Write what you know Fixing mistakes Policy infractions & due process Productivity

Policies, Clarity & Making it Work

Cultural, organizational & individual shift Organizational collaboration – social

media is everyone’s responsibility Clarity of purpose instead of command &

control

Questions?

Thanks to Lindy Dreyer and Maddie Grant, CAE of SocialFish, LLC for allowing me to collaborate on this white paper. Visit their web site www.socialfish.org for more awesomeness on social media strategy and know how.

Leslie T. White, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRMCroydon Consulting, LLCwww.croydonconsult.com Twitter: @ltwhiteEmail: Lwhite@croydonconsult.com Risky Chronicles http://riskychronicles.wordpress.com/410-544-0913