Social Media Policy

Zachry Publications Social Media Policy

General Social Media Guidelines:

At the Zachry Publications we believe in open communication and you are encouraged to tell the world about your work and share your passion. Whether you do so by participating in a blog, social network or any other form of online publishing or discussion is completely up to you.

However, these new ways of communication are changing the way we talk to each other and even to our consumers, target audiences and partners. In order to avoid any problems or misunderstandings, we have come up with a few guidelines to provide helpful and practical advice for you when operating on the internet as an identifiable employee of Zachry Publications and its brands.

• First, please familiarize yourself with and follow the Employee Handbook
• When you discuss ZacPubs or brand-related matters on the internet, especially in the form of a blog, you must identify yourself with your name and, when relevant, your role at the ZP. If you are not speaking for the company please use a disclaimer like “The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent the position, strategy or opinions of Zachry Publications and its brands”. Please always write in the first person and don’t use your company email address for private communications.
• You are personally responsible for the content you publish on blogs, wikis or any other form of user-generated media. Please remember that the internet never forgets. This means everything you publish will be visible to the world for a very, very long time. Common sense is a huge factor here. If you are about to publish something that makes you even the slightest bit uncomfortable, review. If you are still unsure and it is related to Zachry Publications or its brands, talk to your manager.
• Do not comment on work-related legal matters unless you are an official spokesperson, and have the legal approval by ZP or its brands to do so. In addition, talking about revenues, future products, pricing decisions, unannounced financial results or similar matters will get you, the company or both into serious trouble. It is wise to stay away from discussing financial topics and predictions of future performance.
• Respect your audience. Don’t use ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity, or engage in any conduct that would not be acceptable in the ZP workplace. You should also show proper consideration for others privacy and for topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory (like religion or politics). If you are in a virtual world as a ZacPubs representative, please dress and behave accordingly. We all appreciate respect and good grammar.
• Think about consequences. Imagine you are sitting in a sales meeting and your client brings out a printout of a colleague’s post that states that the product you were about to sell “completely sucks”. Talk about a tough pitch. So, please remember: Using your public voice to trash or embarrass your employer, your customers, your co-workers or even yourself is not okay – and not very smart.
• Have you posted something that just wasn’t true? Be the first to respond to your own mistake. In a blog, if you choose to modify an earlier post, make it clear that you have done so.
• Please try to respect copyright. If it is not yours, don’t use it. It is very simple. It is that person’s choice to share his or her material with the world, not yours. Before posting someone else’s work, please check with the owner first.
• Don’t cite or reference clients, partners or suppliers without their approval. When you do make a reference, where possible, link back to the source.
• Be aware that others will associate you with your employer when you identify yourself as such. Please ensure that your Facebook, Linked-in, Twitter or Instagram profile and related content is consistent with how you wish to present yourself with clients and colleagues.

In short:

• Maintain a positive presence.
• Refrain from discrediting the company.
• Refrain from posting inappropriate, misleading, offensive or otherwise unprofessional content.
• Act as the face of Zachry Publications and when given the opportunity provide customer service to your personal social media contacts.
• If you encounter a sales lead on Social Media provide that user’s information directly to the Digital Asset Manager, while at the same time providing the appropriate level of customer service to that user.
• Safe guard confidential company information.
• Share exciting company information at every appropriate opportunity.

Employees are encouraged to talk positively about their job, search for sales leads and share exciting company news on their personal social media pages.  When the company hosts a contest, employees will be encouraged to share the entry information on their personal Social Media pages.  All employees are expected to look for opportunities to provide customer service to readers and customers via social media and to periodically promote each unique digital product (website, digital issue, etc.).

LinkedIn Guidelines:

• Keep contact info up to date.
• Keep an updated profile picture.
• Use appropriate grammar.
• Maintain updated and accurate ‘Experience’ information.
• When adding Zachry Publications as your current employer, be sure to connect with the official Zachry Publications LinkedIn company page.
• Connect with all Zachry Publications employees.
• Endorse fellow employees for skills they exhibit in the workplace, making sure to stay truthful.
• Share posts made by ‘Subject Matter Expert’ employees and posts made on Zachry Publications company pages with your connections.
• At termination of employment, update dates of employment at Zachry Publications on LinkedIn profile.

As you update your pages please update the following:

• Professional Experience
• List certifications
• List education
• List skills so that colleagues can endorse them
• When adding current work experience be sure to connect with official ZacPubs page (it should pull up when you start typing Zachry Publications)
• Keep Contact Info up to date
• Follow all company pages (We have pages for each of our titles, as well as the overall corporate page.  Again they should pull up when you start keying them in)

An easy way to maximize your LinkedIn presence and contribute to the LinkedIn presence of Zachry Publications is to check the platform once a week and share information you find helpful or relevant to your position.  Please also take the time to share any posts made by company pages or written by fellow employees.

Facebook Guidelines:

• Keep contact info up to date.
• Maintain your personality and build relationships.  Don’t turn into a sales pitch machine.
• Choose a high-quality profile and cover image. As is true in print, people trust good faces.
• Share the brand posts you value or think that your connections will value.
• Post your own company related content. Reading a magazine on your coffee break? Share.  Your photo is in the magazine and not on the staff page? Share.  Know someone in the magazine?  Share and tag them!
• Add to your posts by using high quality images and video.  But keep in mind, images and videos always perform best when paired with an engaging caption.
• When posting company related content please use appropriate grammar, tag the appropriate page.

An easy way to maximize your Facebook presence and contribute to the Facebook presence of Zachry Publications is to check the platform once a week with the goal of sharing or engaging on behalf of ZP.

Instagram Guidelines:

• Keep contact info up to date.
• Maintain your personality and build relationships.  Don’t turn into a sales pitch machine.
• Choose a high-quality profile and cover image. As is true in print, people trust good faces.
• Share the brand posts you value or think that your connections will value.
• Post your own company related content. Reading a magazine on your coffee break? Share.  Your photo is in the magazine and not on the staff page? Share.  Know someone in the magazine?  Share and tag them!
• Add to your posts by using high quality images and video.  But keep in mind, images and videos always perform best when paired with an engaging caption.
• When posting company related content please use appropriate grammar, tag the appropriate page and use the appropriate hashtag(s).

An easy way to maximize your Instagram presence and contribute to the Instagram presence of Zachry Publications is to check the platform once a week with the goal of sharing or engaging on behalf of ZP.

Twitter Guidelines:

• Keep contact info up to date.
• Maintain your personality and build relationships.  Don’t turn into a sales pitch machine.
• Choose a high-quality profile and cover image. As is true in print, people trust good faces.
• Share the brand posts you value or think that your connections will value.
• Post your own company related content. Reading a magazine on your coffee break? Share.  Your photo is in the magazine and not on the staff page? Share.  Know someone in the magazine?  Share and tag them!
• Add to your posts by using high quality images and video.  But keep in mind, images and videos always perform best when paired with an engaging caption.
• When posting company related content please use appropriate grammar, tag the appropriate page and use the appropriate hashtag(s).

An easy way to maximize your Twitter presence and contribute to the Twitter presence of Zachry Publications is to check the platform once a week with the goal of sharing or engaging on behalf of ZP.

Tips

• Vary post type (video, photo, link, graphic, etc.) when possible. It’s fine to have a standard but aim for a 4:1 ratio.
• Instagram posts shared through Instagram to Facebook perform better then still images shared directly to Facebook.
• Boomerangs, Gifs, Live and Videos are the highest performing media types.
• Play with new features like Insta Stories and Facebook Live.
• Check advocacy emails for weekly updates and suggestions on sharable company related Social Media posts.
• Ask Digital Asset Manager for help or suggestions when you need it.
• Contact the Digital Asset Manager as soon as you encounter a Social Media crisis.

When someone compliments one of ZP’s products to you, ask if they wouldn’t mind sharing the comment online and tagging our page. Formal reviews are especially helpful.