Social Media Best Practices
The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, furthers sustainable agriculture efforts through grants and educational tools and resources. The mission of Southern SARE is to expand knowledge and adoption of sustainable agriculture practices that are economically viable, environmentally sound and good for all members of the community.
To reach that goal, Southern SARE uses a variety a tools, including social media networks. Southern SARE is currently on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/southsare) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SouthernSARE).
Social media, as defined by Wikipedia, describes the online technologies and practices that people use to share experiences, opinions, insights, and perspectives with each other. As the way we interact with others shifts from traditional forms of communication to more web-based technologies, the importance of Southern SARE to have a presence on social media networks increases.
As an organization that, in many ways, supports and is supported by grassroots efforts, Southern SARE has a place on social media – where people interact with people to shape the opinions and actions of the larger community.
We encourage you to use social media where your presence can add value to the organization and help advance our mission. As experts in your field, being an active participant on social media networks can provide an outlet for sharing your wealth of knowledge with those who would find the information invaluable.
The following guidelines have been developed as a foundation for implementing a productive social media presence. Keep these guidelines in mind as you use social media, not only when representing us, but also as you use social media to connect with others.
Keep your personal and professional lives separate. Your messaging reflects on the organization just as much as traditional channels of communication do. Make smart decisions about how and what you post for the world to see. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t inject your own personality or individuality into your work. Remember that social media was designed to engage and interact. There are social networks available that are strictly used for professional purposes, such as LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com).
Remember that the Internet is public domain. Once information is out there, it’s out there forever. It cannot be deleted and it can be found if someone searches hard enough. Keep this in mind as you post to social media sites.
Use common sense. Think first before posting. Social media is no different than sending an e-mail, talking on the phone or having face-to-face conversations. As the saying goes, “Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want your grandmother to hear.”
Maintain confidentiality. Don’t post any personal information. Posting information such as home telephone numbers, social security numbers, home addresses, credit card numbers, etc., can compromise your identity.
Be professional. Use the same standards of professionalism as you would when meeting someone in person.
Be open. Identify who you are and identify who you work for. Our credibility depends on your credibility.
Follow copyright laws. Give credit where credit is due when posting articles or photos online.
Participate often. Remember that social media was designed to engage and interact. Participate daily, if possible. Doing so will help make meaningful connections with others. Using social media is a great tool for connecting your clients to our tools and resources.
Start Small. New to social media? Try one tool at a time and build on your networks as you become more comfortable and as time permits. Staying connected is important to success, but also be mindful of the investment. Outlining social media goals related to your work responsibilities will help in staying focused.
Excerpted from existing policies and recommendations and additional resources:
12 Things to Consider When Using Social Media Tools: Guidelines for CAES Contributors, University of Georgia
http://collaborate.extension.org/mediawiki/files/f/f6/NCCE_socialmedia.pdf
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/E/EX-0112/EX-0112.pdf
http://about.extension.org/wiki/eXtension_Social_Media_Guidelines
