Nicole Reisberg, originally published on The Social Haven The headlines are getting more and more serious by the minute. Most businesses have implemented a work-from-home policy, schools are closing, and toilet paper has been placed on the endangered species list. As a social media lead for many organizations worldwide, I've been faced with the challenge of what my clients should be saying, and not saying, on an organizational level during a pandemic such as COVID-19. After many discussions with clients and colleagues, I thought I would share a few general guidelines that should keep your business relevant, while sensitive to the crisis. Keep it positive! Post photos and videos of your team members keeping a positive attitude during this time. Below is a great example of a company post showing a team making the most of the unfortunate situation. Kudos to ARG! Show that business is still up and running. Don't go dark on social. If you're on a work-from-home schedule, have team members share photos or videos their virtual workspaces and technology. Promote virtual events in the absence of in-person. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn now all have Live broadcast features. You can schedule and promote a Live, Virtual event, where attendees can log into and interact in real time. Continue your usual social media listening practices. Don't ignore the platforms, and respond to questions and comments as quickly as you typically would (same day!). Offer relevant resources and updates. Consider how you can help your employees, partners and clients stay connected and working during this time. Some of my clients are offering resources around tips for remote workers, Coronavirus-related threat advisories, etc... Use social media as a communication tool to update team members of office closures and event cancelations. Share only credible, relevant, industry news. Be very careful of sharing false information. Limit promotional activity and opt for sensitivity and compassion. While it's important to stay positive, do not make light of the situation...i.e. second-guess the Corona beer jokes. Do not take a side, politically. Keep your voice neutral. Stop and review all scheduled posts. Be sure that all are appropriate given the current circumstances. Show support for local businesses that are still open. See below for a great example, courtesy of my local mayor here in Long Beach, CA. Take advantage of the social media uptick.
People will be more active than ever on social media during this time. Take advantage of their presence by helping them get to know your team. Consider sharing team member features a couple times per week, with a photo and fun fact about each team member. Keep up with staff birthdays, anniversaries and holidays with dedicated posts on social media. If you're managing social media for a business, whether internally or as an agency, the above guidelines are important to keep in mind. Stay safe out there! Comments are closed.
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