There’s no doubt that more organizations are using social media screening to protect their businesses. According to CareerBuilder, over 70% of employers use social media to screen potential hires, and 43% use it to monitor current employees.

Social media screening protects your organizations’ reputation. It also ensures that you are hiring the right candidates, monitors current employees, and safeguards employees which supports the mission, values and public image of the organization.

Many companies are aware of the various advantages that result from social media monitoring. However, they are often unsure of how to introduce the concept to their organization. At Social Media 23, we’ve put together a few tips to help your corporation streamline the process.

Establish expectation

A Social Media Code of Conduct (SMCC) outlines your expectations and explain the reasoning behind social media screening and monitoring. When constructing your SMCC, the policy should be based on your organization’s behavior policy.

Your code of conduct, however, will further define which online behaviors are acceptable and unacceptable. A SMCC can address sexual activity, illegal activity, derogatory or threatening comments, activity that would endanger another individual’s well-being, or adverse comments about your business or customers.

Be positive versus negative about the reason for monitoring

Social media monitoring can be met with a negative response. For employees, it can feel like an invasion of privacy. However, positive communication can turn the negatives into positives. Clarify your reasons for using social media monitoring. Protecting your business’s reputation protects your employees as well.

Establishing monitoring routines

After communicating your expectations, you should establish your monitoring routine. Depending on your business’s needs, you might want to monitor social media monthly or quarterly. Establishing a routine will optimize the monitoring software and ensure that you remain up to date on any issues that might threaten your business’s reputation.

Treating everyone the same

One reason that software-based social media monitoring works so well for the screening and monitoring process is that it removes bias. The software eliminates the viewing and reading of social media posts and information that could be cause for bias, such as sex, race, or pregnancy.

Social media monitoring can help eliminate bias, but only when it is used the right way. Whether you are monitoring current employees or screening potential hires, your organization must hold everyone to the same standards. For social media monitoring to work for your business, everyone must participate.

Be transparent about reports and objectives

Since expectations were established with the SMCC, you should also be transparent about the monitoring process. Communicate the results of monitoring reports.

At Social Media 23, we use a computer-based monitoring system that provides results using statistical data. The purpose of these reports should be considered as preventative and not punitive which makes discussing results and addressing issues much easier for you and your team.

Introduce Monitoring Successfully

While introducing social media monitoring can seem like a daunting task, following these tips will help eliminate unfounded stress. Approaching the topic of social media monitoring with a positive outlook, clear expectations, and justified reasoning will convey the positive intentions that you have for your business and employees.