We are being flooded with Social Media invitations and updates. Web-based communication icons like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn are dominating the way we interact with each other. People are feeling the need to be updated at all times. It has become a time eater, and businesses are quickly becoming aware of the drain it can have on productivity. People love to share, but they need to know what is alright to share and what should not be sent out.

Understanding Social Media is about communicating the right way. We are beginning to communicate more through electronic means that face to face. Talking on a phone has been replaced more and more with SMS (texting.) Social media channels are becoming the main form of communication and your participants will realize how Social media and the Workplace can work together.

At the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:

• Learn the meaning of social media
• Learn different ways social media is used and altered
• Build and maintain a social media policy
• Keep social media secure
• Establish rules for the social media the company posts
• Discover the benefits and pitfalls of using social media

Course Outline:

Module One: Getting Started

Housekeeping Items

The Parking Lot

Workshop Objectives

Action Plans and Evaluations

Module Two: What is Social Media?

Online Communities

User Created Content

Information Sharing

Communication Tools

Module Three: Defining Your Social Media Policy (I)

It Should be a Living Document

Choosing an Information Officer

What Can and Cannot Be Shared

Legal and Ethic Specifications

Case Study

Module Three: Review Questions

Module Four: Defining Your Social Media Policy (II)

New Hire Orientation

Let Common Sense Guide You

Nothing Offensive

Rules on Soliciting and Personal Posts

Case Study

Module Four: Review Questions

Module Five: Creating a Living Document

What is a Living Document?

How Often is it Revised?

Who Will be in Charge

Change Management

Case Study

Module Five: Review Questions

Module Six: Keeping an Eye on Security

Password Rules

Needs Constant Monitoring

Keeping Information Confidential

Protecting Intellectual Property

Case Study

Module Six: Review Questions

Module Seven: Rules to Follow When Posting (I)

Always Show Respect

Stop and Think Before You Post

Always be Honest

Never Discredit or Talk Ill of Competitors

Case Study

Module Seven: Review Questions

Module Eight: Rules to Follow When Posting (II)

Be Transparent

Act Like You Would in Real Life

Grammar and Spelling Still Counts

Never Post When You Are Angry

Case Study

Module Nine: Benefits of Social media

From Audience to Author

Builds Customer Loyalty

Speed and Flexibility in Communication

Two Way Communications

Case Study

Module Nine: Review Questions

Module Ten: The Pitfalls of Social Media

Bullying

Group Think

Trolling

Remember, It Is Out There Forever

Case Study

Module Ten: Review Questions

Module Eleven: Listen to Your Customers

They Provide Great Feedback

It Makes Them Happy

Improves Your Brand

Improves Product Development

Case Study

Module Eleven: Review Questions

Module Twelve: Wrapping Up

Words from the Wise

Review of Parking Lot

Lessons Learned

Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations