Scottish businesses urged to review social media policies
Business leaders in Glasgow were today (Tuesday November 8th) urged to take a fresh look at their online communications policies if they are to avoid running into legal difficulties.
Gary Ennis, managing director of Glasgow digital marketing agency NSDesign, and Eilidh Wiseman, partner and head of employment law at Dundas & Wilson, co-presented to 160 senior business officials at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall as part of the Customer Contact Association’s (CCA) Annual Global Customer Convention.
The key piece of advice provided by the speakers was for business owners to re-examine their existing social media policies and to keep them under a state of continuous review.
The CCA holds an Annual Global Customer Convention to give businesses an opportunity to learn from some of the world's leading brands and network with fellow senior professionals with common interests.
The theme of this year’s convention – ‘The Connected Customer’ - was chosen to reflect the issues facing organisations today - continually innovating customer service and sales across a growing range of channels.
Eilidh Wiseman, partner and head of employment law at Dundas & Wilson, said: “If the last few years are anything to go by, social media will remain in a state of permanent evolution. Employers need to keep their policy under review to keep ahead of the risks.
“While the responsibility for reviewing the social media policy may rest with HR or IT, they need to ensure that input is obtained from other social media users including marketing, PR and customer complaints. Joining up all the dots is key to ensuring that employers present a holistic social media strategy which covers the bigger picture.”
Gary Ennis, managing director of award winning company NSDesign, has worked with over 1000 businesses throughout the UK to provide expert advice and guidance on conducting effective online communications.
He said: “Social media is still a relatively new phenomenon, and whilst it gives businesses a fantastic opportunity to develop communications, it can result in serious legal difficulties if used incorrectly. Social media platforms should be treated as a public space – if you would not say something in a business meeting or in an interview with a journalist, don’t say it online.”
“A social media policy should explain the key do’s and don’ts for good practice, and as long as it is kept under continuous review, business owners should be actively encouraging all their employees to get involved.”
For more information about NSDesign including up and coming social media training workshops offered by Gary Ennis, visit www.nsdesign.co.uk.
