PR, search and social media agency Punch Communications has advised that businesses reluctant to embrace the use of social media in the workplace can benefit immensely from the development of employee guidelines.

Whilst social networks have developed into the perfect online environment for consumer engagement and communication, many corporations are fearful that any interaction with online communities could result in a crisis, particularly when it comes to serious issues such as ethics, policy or even the leaking of secret information.

Despite this, Punch Communications argues that this can be at the very least mitigated and avoided through the development of guidelines for employees that dictate how they should be using social media when it comes to talking about their company online.

Alex Smith, Account Manager at PR agency Punch, said: “If businesses don’t allow the use of social networks as part of their employees’ working life, this will only result in them using it in a more secretive manner. By supplying guidelines to regulate and maintain social media use, companies can ensure that their employees are on message, and more importantly that they are spreading the work about the business in an appropriate way.

“It’s also a good idea to create crisis guidelines alongside, as this will ensure that any crisis processes are clearly laid out to employees, meaning that there’s a better sense of alignment across the organisation should the worst happen. Overall, the benefit of social networking activity can be of a great benefit, and in the current digital world it’s important that businesses don’t stifle this.”

Punch Communications is a leading PR, social media and SEO agency, with a broad expertise across all traditional and developing forms of communication, online and off.

For any further information, or to enquire regarding the set up of social media guidelines for business purposes, please call 01858 411 600, or visit www.punchcomms.com.