OVERVIEW
ACCJ members know all too well the tremendous positive impact effective leveraging of social media can have for their business in today's world. The ACCJ also recognizes how critical social media is as an outlet for engagement with members, prospective members, and the general public. To facilitate this engagement, the ACCJ has augmented its presence in a variety of social media outlets, including most prominently Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
In concert with that increased presence, the ACCJ recognizes the need to at once encourage member-and non-member-driven engagement, while at the same time, present some guidelines that will hopefully maximize the benefits these outlets can provide for both members and the Chamber simultaneously.
As with any medium of public exposure and communication, social media has the potential to lead to unintended consequences. The guidelines enumerated below are intended to help members and other users avoid potential pitfalls that are present with the use of social media. Many of the following are taken from best practices found at various institutions similar to the ACCJ, and are intended to help members understand some of the implications of participation in social media as it relates to the ACCJ.
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?
Social media refers to online tools and services that allow any Internet user to create and publish content. Many of these sites use personal profiles in which users post information about themselves. The "social" in social media comes in as these individuals find others with similar interests and interact with them through online communities, sharing information, opinions and knowledge, offering support and networking. Social media also allows for the easy sharing and re-purposing of existing content, expanding the reach of one’s influence/ engagement and enabling others to share ideas/ opinions/information with friends and networks. Popular social media services include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, YouTube and Flickr.
HOW THE ACCJ IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA
The ACCJ uses social media to share information and facilitate discussions on relevant topics with the public.
ACCJ's official social media presences include:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
YouTube
The ACCJ posts information on upcoming events, links to Chamber news and event recaps, photos, and other ACCJ-related documents to many of its social networking sites. The ACCJ welcomes feedback and recommendations for posts from members on its SNS sites.
GUIDELINES FOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA
Using social media to share opinions, information, photos, and news about the ACCJ is an excellent and inexpensive way for members and the public to engage with one another and promote the work of the ACCJ.
When sharing information about or engaging in discussions related to the ACCJ, please keep the following guidelines in mind.
DISCLAIMERS
The ACCJ maintains presence on several SNS outlets, and engages with members and non-members alike. It does so by maintaining a presence on the following sites to which members and non-members who have "joined" or otherwise enabled themselves to "post" or publish information and/or opinions that are then visible on those ACCJ-maintained sites.
Twitter (@AmChamJapan)
Facebook (The.ACCJ)
LinkedIn (AmCham Japan)
YouTube (AmChamJapan)
Wikipedia
Unless posted by an official administrator of an ACCJ-linked account, anything posted on ACCJ-linked accounts represents the opinion(s) of the posting person(s) and should not be attributed to the ACCJ or any of its constitutional entities (councils, committees, subcommittees, and other groups).
In general, the ACCJ encourages engagement and thoughtful discussion via the outlets made available through social networking sites; however, the ACCJ reserves the right to remove posts it deems offensive and "block" users found repeatedly in violation of the spirit of engagement that these sites represent. "Blocked" members may appeal their blocked status with the ACCJ Secretariat, and if satisfactory resolution cannot be found through those means, those appeals will be forwarded for consideration by the leaders of the Communications Advisory Council. In severe cases, the Board of Governors will review complaints and issue necessary directives.
CONCLUSION
The strength and value of the ACCJ has always been found in the tremendous quality and integrity of its members. While the Internet continues to evolve and transform some of the ways in which we interact with one another, that core of excellence the membership represents remains unchanged. We look forward to how members will advance conversations that the ACCJ helps initiate through these new outlets of interaction and keep the ACCJ really at the forefront of what's happening in the business world.
ACCJ members know all too well the tremendous positive impact effective leveraging of social media can have for their business in today's world. The ACCJ also recognizes how critical social media is as an outlet for engagement with members, prospective members, and the general public. To facilitate this engagement, the ACCJ has augmented its presence in a variety of social media outlets, including most prominently Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
In concert with that increased presence, the ACCJ recognizes the need to at once encourage member-and non-member-driven engagement, while at the same time, present some guidelines that will hopefully maximize the benefits these outlets can provide for both members and the Chamber simultaneously.
As with any medium of public exposure and communication, social media has the potential to lead to unintended consequences. The guidelines enumerated below are intended to help members and other users avoid potential pitfalls that are present with the use of social media. Many of the following are taken from best practices found at various institutions similar to the ACCJ, and are intended to help members understand some of the implications of participation in social media as it relates to the ACCJ.
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?
Social media refers to online tools and services that allow any Internet user to create and publish content. Many of these sites use personal profiles in which users post information about themselves. The "social" in social media comes in as these individuals find others with similar interests and interact with them through online communities, sharing information, opinions and knowledge, offering support and networking. Social media also allows for the easy sharing and re-purposing of existing content, expanding the reach of one’s influence/ engagement and enabling others to share ideas/ opinions/information with friends and networks. Popular social media services include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, YouTube and Flickr.
HOW THE ACCJ IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA
The ACCJ uses social media to share information and facilitate discussions on relevant topics with the public.
ACCJ's official social media presences include:
YouTube
The ACCJ posts information on upcoming events, links to Chamber news and event recaps, photos, and other ACCJ-related documents to many of its social networking sites. The ACCJ welcomes feedback and recommendations for posts from members on its SNS sites.
GUIDELINES FOR USING SOCIAL MEDIA
Using social media to share opinions, information, photos, and news about the ACCJ is an excellent and inexpensive way for members and the public to engage with one another and promote the work of the ACCJ.
When sharing information about or engaging in discussions related to the ACCJ, please keep the following guidelines in mind.
- Cite Original Sources: In general, the best way to share information is by linking back to the original source, such as the page on the ACCJ website or the original post on the ACCJ's social media account.
- Maintain Privacy and Confidentiality: Do not post private information of individuals without their permission. Do not post confidential information. Also, please remember that views/opinions you post on the ACCJ's social media websites are public, are usually searchable and furthermore linked to your profile (depending on how you choose to identify yourself), so be prudent in which views you express and how you want to express them.
- Maintain Transparency: Be clear in your social media profiles and in your posts about your relationship with the ACCJ. Be authentic, and be clear when you are posting your personal views that they are not necessarily the views of the ACCJ. Do not use pseudonyms or post as someone else.
- Be Responsible: You are ultimately liable for what you post. Keep this in mind when choosing what information to share and how to share it.
- Correct Mistakes: If you make a mistake, acknowledge and correct that mistake. In posts, you can strike out the incorrect text and add a correction underneath. In comments, you can add an additional comment correcting your incorrect comment. You should not delete posts or mistaken text unless you are posting a correction and stating that the previous content was deleted. Deleting mistakes without comment can be seen as deceptive or as if you are trying to "hide" something.
- Respect Others: The ACCJ is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful Internet community for everyone. To maintain a respectable online identity, you should not make any comments that consist of attacks on others, defamation, or hate speech of any kind.
- Add Value: When you use social media you are part of a larger community, sharing information and ideas and engaging in discussions. Make sure all your posts and comments contribute to that community in a positive way by providing useful information; staying on-topic in discussions; and by offering your unique viewpoint.
- Think Twice, Post Once: The Internet is forever. Even deleted posts and comments can be found in archives, screen captures, and by other means. Things that you post can be found years later. If you would not say something in a face-to-face conversation, or do not think you would be proud of what you say in the future, you should not post it on the Internet.
DISCLAIMERS
The ACCJ maintains presence on several SNS outlets, and engages with members and non-members alike. It does so by maintaining a presence on the following sites to which members and non-members who have "joined" or otherwise enabled themselves to "post" or publish information and/or opinions that are then visible on those ACCJ-maintained sites.
Twitter (@AmChamJapan)
Facebook (The.ACCJ)
LinkedIn (AmCham Japan)
YouTube (AmChamJapan)
Wikipedia
Unless posted by an official administrator of an ACCJ-linked account, anything posted on ACCJ-linked accounts represents the opinion(s) of the posting person(s) and should not be attributed to the ACCJ or any of its constitutional entities (councils, committees, subcommittees, and other groups).
In general, the ACCJ encourages engagement and thoughtful discussion via the outlets made available through social networking sites; however, the ACCJ reserves the right to remove posts it deems offensive and "block" users found repeatedly in violation of the spirit of engagement that these sites represent. "Blocked" members may appeal their blocked status with the ACCJ Secretariat, and if satisfactory resolution cannot be found through those means, those appeals will be forwarded for consideration by the leaders of the Communications Advisory Council. In severe cases, the Board of Governors will review complaints and issue necessary directives.
CONCLUSION
The strength and value of the ACCJ has always been found in the tremendous quality and integrity of its members. While the Internet continues to evolve and transform some of the ways in which we interact with one another, that core of excellence the membership represents remains unchanged. We look forward to how members will advance conversations that the ACCJ helps initiate through these new outlets of interaction and keep the ACCJ really at the forefront of what's happening in the business world.
