Aviation manufacturers would be prudent to establish social media guidelines for employees to join the global conversation about their company and the aviation industry.

Everyone loves to talk over the back fence about what’s going on with their work and life.  Digital platforms amplify this content and spread it across the globe.

Employees that participate in user-generated media, sharing their expertise and experiences, can:

• Establish stronger customer relationships
• Reduce customer service cost
• Identify areas of innovation for new product and services

Establishing a set of guidelines is beneficial to both company and employee, aiding in creating relative content that is informative and engaging.

10 areas to include in your social media policy:

1. Disclose – Be honest about who you are. If the conversation is about the company, use your real name, identify that you work for the company and the role you perform.
2. Be truthful – You are responsible for the content you publish online. If you have a vested interest in something you’re discussing, point it out and be specific about what it is.
3. Your views are your own – If you publish content relative to the company or your role, make it clear that you are speaking for yourself and not on behalf of the company.
4. Protect company information – Make sure your content does not compromise confidentiality or legal agreements. Never discuss business performance or other sensitive matters.
5. Use common sense – By identifying yourself as an employee, you are creating perceptions about your expertise and about the company.
6. Play nice – Treat everyone with respect and frame your writing to encourage engagement.
7. No one’s perfect – If you make a mistake, admit it and correct it. If it’s on an earlier blog, date it and acknowledge the mistake.
8. The internet is public  – Anyone can read your post, from reporters to stock analysts to the competition.
9. You can’t hide from search engines – You can’t take something back, even that Spring Break picture from your freshman year at college.
10. Respect copyright laws – Show respect for copyright laws. If you borrow a quote or reference a research paper, give the author credit and provide a link to the document.

Social Media Governance provides the most complete listing of social media policies. Click here to view the social media policies of some of the top B2C and B2B companies.