--- title: Why a social media policy is the must-have business accessory for 2013 description: In the world of social media, ‘policy’ is the word on everyone’s lips. No sooner have companies figured out that they need to be using social media, that they realise they need to develop a social media policy both to support and maximise the value of their social media activity and to help protect them from online reputation mishaps. image: https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip_Communication.jpg --- [![Bluechip_Logo](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Bluechip_Logo.svg "Bluechip_Logo")](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/) ![Search-9](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip%20website/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Search-9.svg "Search-9") ![Close Icon (3)-1](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Close%20Icon%20(3)-1.svg "Close Icon (3)-1") This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ** ![Close Icon (3)](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg "Close Icon (3)") ##### Knowledge Shared # Insights ##### All Articles ![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip%20website/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/down-filled-triangular-arrow.png) - [Financial Services (168)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) - [Public Relations (133)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) - [Marketing (111)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/marketing) - [Social Media (101)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) - [Integrated Marketing (87)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/integrated-marketing) - [Reputation Management (79)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) - [Crisis Management (61)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [Growth (46)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) - [Profile (41)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) - [COVID-19 (40)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/covid-19) - [Protect (14)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) - [BC Team (9)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/bc-team) - [Blog (7)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/blog) - [Leadership communication (6)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) - [Cyber Security (3)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/cyber-security) - [Client In The News (2)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) [Client In The News](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ### [Melos Sulicich shares SME success tips on Money News’ “Let’s Talk Business”](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/melos-sulicich-shares-sme-success-tips-on-money-news-lets-talk-business) Melos Sulicich, CEO of Bank of Sydney was interviewed by 2GB’s Money News "Let's Talk Business" segment with Scott Haywood. He shared tips for family-run businesses to make sure ev... [Client In The News](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ### [Target hostile countries, not us, drug giant CSL tells Trump](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/target-hostile-countries-not-us-drug-giant-csl-tells-trump) This is an extract from an article written by Michael Smith and Jessica Gardner in The Australian Financial Review. Published on the 10th July 2025. “It is weighing on the share pr... - ##### [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) - ##### [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) ## [Why a social media policy is the must-have business accessory for 2013](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/why-a-social-media-policy-is-the-must-have-business-accessory-for-2013) ###### By The BlueChip Team ###### 01 Oct 2012 [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Growth](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) ##### [Reaching High Net Worth Individuals Through Social Media Marketing in 2025](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/how-target-high-net-worth-individuals-social-media) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ##### [The Science of Crisis Communication: Proactive and Reactive Strategies](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/proactive-and-reactive-crisis-communication-strategies) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) ##### [Affluence. Effluence. Influence. Do you know the difference?](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/affluence-effluence-influence-do-you-know-the-difference/) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ##### [Introduction to Crisis Communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/introduction-to-crisis-communication) # Insights. [Back to all articles](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog) - Share - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/facebook.svg) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluechipcommunication.com.au%2Fblog%2Fwhy-a-social-media-policy-is-the-must-have-business-accessory-for-2013) - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/linked%20in.svg) ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/why-a-social-media-policy-is-the-must-have-business-accessory-for-2013) - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/twitter-1.svg) ](https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluechipcommunication.com.au%2Fblog%2Fwhy-a-social-media-policy-is-the-must-have-business-accessory-for-2013) ![BlueChip_Communication.jpg](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/BlueChip_Communication.jpg?width=640&name=BlueChip_Communication.jpg "BlueChip_Communication.jpg") In the world of social media, ‘policy’ is the word on everyone’s lips. No sooner have companies figured out that they need to be using social media, that they realise they need to develop a social media policy both to support and maximise the value of their social media activity and to help protect them from online reputation mishaps. In the last few months, BlueChip has attended conferences, read articles and researched best practice examples of social media dos and don’ts so we can report back to you: *Who got it wrong?* [Linfox](http://www.dibbsbarker.com/publication/No_social_media_policy___%E2%80%9CNot_sufficient%E2%80%9D__says_Fair_Work_Australia.aspx) is an example of a business that, in the absence of a social media policy, landed itself in trouble with Fair Work Australia (FWA). Following some ‘abusive’ comments made on personal social media channels about bosses, Linfox abruptly dismissed the employee responsible. However, when the employee brought the dismissal to FWA, it deemed that ‘In the current electronic age,* this [lack of policy] is not sufficient and many large companies have published detailed social media policies and taken pains to acquaint their employees with those policies”*. The employee was subsequently reinstated. Most businesses want to be thorough and address any potential issues, however, there is also the other extreme of those who go too far, as the Commonwealth Bank found out. In its two-page social media policy document, the bank **threatened employees with disciplinary action, including dismissal, if they did not report criticism of the bank made by others on social media channels, including Facebook.** The Finance Sector Union (FSU) demanded the suspension of the policy, accusing the bank of ‘trying to restrict freedom of expression’. The social media policy achieved coverage in the[Australian](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/bank-threatens-staff-with-sack-over-social-media-comments/story-e6frg6nf-1226000454432), the [AFR](http://afr.com/p/national/cba_dob_in_web_policy_gets_the_boot_WnE1udJE1Yhu8ARwPimo7L) and other media outlets, but for all the wrong reasons. According to media reports, the bank has since retreated from this aspect of the policy. *Who got it right?* As BlueChip has said before, there are no ‘experts’ in social media, just those who have more experience than others. On this point, we have not come across the perfect social media policy. However, the [ABC](http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/useOfSocialMedia.pdf) and [Best Buy](http://bbyconnect.appspot.com/participation_guidelines/) policies have both been cited by commentators as best practice. While a lot of good policy is about common sense and there are certainly ‘musts to include’ in your social media policy, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. It is important for a social media policy to reflect other policies and procedures within your business as well as the guidelines governing how you use various social media channels. Check out the [Front Row](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/content_common/pg-frontrow/q4-2012.seo) article for some tips we’ve picked up. To find out more about social media policy, or to create one for your business, contact social@bluechipcommunciation.com.au. [![New call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/537730/431002e3-250a-4808-8e24-851fccc589ac.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/537730/431002e3-250a-4808-8e24-851fccc589ac) [![how to drive your fame agenda](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/537730/353fa2e0-53b3-407b-b7b3-d03aa771c86d.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/537730/353fa2e0-53b3-407b-b7b3-d03aa771c86d) ## Related Posts [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Growth](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) ###### 07 August 2024 #### [Democrat or Demobrat? How meme-driven Gen Z marketing reached US politics and why it works](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/demobrat-is-gen-z-marketing) [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Growth](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) ###### 25 June 2024 #### [Reaching High Net Worth Individuals Through Social Media Marketing in 2025](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/how-target-high-net-worth-individuals-social-media) [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Growth](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) ###### 19 June 2024 #### [The Dual Edge of Apple's AI Sword: Innovation and Implications](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/apple-intelligence-ai) [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) ###### 18 July 2022 #### [The price of your (and my) human rights might be more human responsibility](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/the-price-of-your-and-my-human-rights-might-be-more-human-responsibility) [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) ###### 20 June 2022 #### [Media bias and you, whether you're 15 or 50, Amber Heard or AlboPM](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/media-bias-and-you-whether-youre-15-or-50-amber-heard-or-albopm) [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) ###### 20 May 2022 #### [The election war of memes is no laughing matter](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/the-election-war-of-memes-is-no-laughing-matter) ## Stay up to date ### Marketing insights you’ll want to read. Sign up for our newsletter ## Stay up to date ### Marketing insights you’ll want to read. Sign up for our newsletter ### Other Topics - [Financial Services (168)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) - [Public Relations (133)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) - [Marketing (111)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/marketing) - [Social Media (101)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) - [Integrated Marketing (87)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/integrated-marketing) - [Reputation Management (79)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) - [Crisis Management (61)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [Growth (46)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) - [Profile (41)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) - [COVID-19 (40)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/covid-19) - [Protect (14)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) - [BC Team (9)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/bc-team) - [Blog (7)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/blog) - [Leadership communication (6)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) - [Cyber Security (3)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/cyber-security) - [Client In The News (2)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ![Logo white](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Logo%20white.svg "Logo white") #### Strategy-led PR and marketing for financial services Level 2, 50 Bridge Street TWP, Quay Quarter Tower Sydney NSW 2000 [(02) 9018 8600](tel:%200290188600) [![Get in touch](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/537730/13bb9d57-6822-4724-8734-d9ae781694e1.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/537730/13bb9d57-6822-4724-8734-d9ae781694e1) [askus@bluechipcommunication.com.au](mailto:askus@bluechipcommunication.com.au) #### Connect with us - [![Facebook](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/facebook-17.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/BlueChipComm) - [![LinkedIn](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/linked%20in-17.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluechip-communication/) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=2026306&fmt=gif)