​So I was invited to publish there almost two months ago, but who has time? So I missed the boat on the "first" thingy, but that's okay.

​What is a social media policy?

A social media policy is a document designed to ensure that all your employees are on the same page when it comes to posting on social media. If everybody knows what the rules are when it comes to discussing work, controversial opinions and client information (and they know that you know they know what the rules are), they’re less likely to break them. Some people might not know the dangers of posting carelessly. Others will know the dangers, but will just hope they won’t get caught. A social media policy puts a stop to all this.

Why do I need one?

Remember last week’s section on social sabotage? If you or your employees say anything regrettable online, your entire business could suffer. Unfortunately, it’s easier to go viral with something you shouldn’t have posted than it is with a carefully designed campaign. People love scandal, and the Internet isn’t very forgiving.

Where can I find one?

We have one right here you can use. We’ll even help you customize it, if that’s what you need!

Next week in #SocialSpin, we’ll be covering hashtag hijacking, and how to prevent it. Have any suggestions, questions or comments in the mean time? Post them below, or let us know on Twitter, using the hashtag #SocialSpin!

Image by Vision Creation

​You know that many businesses employ ghostwriters to be the voice of their company (or top execs) via their blogs, but many businesses also use ghostwriters to write pieces to call attention to other publications on their website, or to help create or solidify their standing as a thought leader in their industry.

What makes these articles different from blogs? 

• They’re usually longer – anywhere from 700 to 1000 words, whereas the typical blog post is only 300
• They’re often more formal in tone, as they are meant to reach a broader audience than just those already following the company blog
• They may require more research as they are often more fact-based than opinion-based

This type of work allows you to showcase a different set of skills than writing ghost tweets, for example. You won’t be able to claim credit in the traditional sense, but you may be able to negotiate portfolio excerpts into your contract for the sake of getting additional work.

Ghostwriting articles is a very particular skill that many busy CEOs are more than happy to pay for, but you have to know how to find them (which we'll cover next time) and be prepared for the weirdness of seeing your work bylined by someone else. Once you get past that, you’ll be on your way to a solid career as a ghostwriter.

by Christina Yeager

Do you have a bad habit of sharing too much online or are you reluctant to chat about personal happenings?

This quiz will tell you where you fall in the TMI (too much info) scale, if you're brave enough to take it!

Owl image from Feans