Social Media Guidelines Seattle Men S Chorus & Seattle Women S Chorus

Social Media Guidelines Seattle Men’s Chorus & Seattle Women’s Chorus

Communities have the power to make the world a better place. Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) and Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) embrace the reality that today’s communities do not only exist in the physical world, but also online. The Choruses recognize the importance of the internet in shaping public perception of our organization as well as the wide reach that communication in online communities can have - both positively and negatively. We also acknowledge the importance of our board, staff, members, and volunteers in helping shape these conversations and interactions via social media platforms.

While communication on behalf of the organization is the primary responsibility of the Marketing department, the management team understands that other staff and chorus members can also further the organization’s goals through utilization of social media networks.

All staff and chorus members are encouraged to use new and social media responsibly, communicating about topics within their areas of expertise, so long as this does not interfere with their primary duties or the security of the IT systems.

The choruses are committed to supporting honest, respectful, and knowledgeable dialogue which furthers both the mission and vision of Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus.

These guidelines are designed to provide helpful, practical advice while protecting the interests of board, staff, volunteers, and chorus members. Remember, these Social Media Guidelines are a living document. As technology is constantly evolving, the organization will continue adapting to current trends. We will be sure to keep all informed of these changes / additions to our Social Media Guidelines as they arise.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Marketing Team at [email protected]

What is New and Social Media?

For the purposes of this policy, new and social media means any facility for online publication and commentary, including blogs and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

FACEBOOK Check out our pages at www.facebook.com/SeattleMensChorus and www.facebook.com/SeattleWomensChorus and Like us.

1 If you are using Facebook to promote a SMC or SWC concert or event, please tag us in your post. When you tag SMC or SWC, we are notified, allowing us to find your posts, then comment, like, and share them.

To tag SMC or SWC, first make sure you’ve liked our page. Then, in the text area use the “@” symbol and start to type our name (Seattle Men’s Chorus or Seattle Women’s Chorus) - our page will pop up in a drop down menu for your selection. And, Voila!

Example: “So excited to see @Seattle Men’s Chorus perform with Leslie Jordan in Dancing Queen this Saturday!”

TWITTER Follow us on twitter @SMC_Chorus and @SWC_Chorus

If you are using Twitter to promote a SMC or SWC concert or event, tag us in your tweet. You can do this with our handles, @SMC_Chorus and @SWC_Chorus, within your permitted 140 characters. We’ll be notified and then we can re-tweet or respond.

You may also want to use a hashtag in your tweets. A hashtag is a tag embedded in the message of a tweet consisting of a subject word prefixed with a hash sign. Anyone who follows that hashtag will then have access to your tweets, even if they don’t already follow you. Keep tags specific to the subject of your tweet.

*Marketing will create specific hashtags for each concert and event during the season. These hashtags will be shared with staff, board, and members and should be used across all social media platforms when posting/tweeting about specific Chorus events.

Example: So excited to see @SWC_Chorus in #Celebrate tonight!

YOUTUBE Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/FlyingHouseSeattle

Watch and comment on uploaded videos.

You may also want to share videos on your other Social Media network pages.

PINTEREST Follow us on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/SMCSWC

With your personal Pinterest account, follow SMC | SWC and each of our boards. Repin, Like, and Comment on your favorite pins for your followers to see as well.

TUMBLR Follow us on Tumblr: http://smc-swc.tumblr.com/

Follow our Tumblr page or simply visit and read daily blog entries. Comment on posts and encourage others to do the same.

2 LinkedIn Follow us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/seattle-men%27s-chorus-&- seattle-women%27s-chorus

With your personal LinkedIn account, follow the Seattle Men’s Chorus & Seattle Women’s Chorus Company Page (In the dropdown search bar, select ‘Companies,’ and type in Seattle Men’s Chorus & Seattle Women’s Chorus). Like, comment, and share posts, and encourage your colleagues to follow our page as well.

What are SMC and SWC’s Social Media Values?

Participation within any social media platform should be guided by the mission and vision of the organization. As a “voice for acceptance” in the community and across the nation, our visibility, engagement, and sustainable growth online and offline are also guided by certain values:

Transparency, Integrity, Leadership, Diversity, and Passion.

Social Media Roles: Who Does What?

All official social media accounts are managed by the Marketing Department. FHP maintains individual Facebook and Twitter accounts for SMC & SWC, as well as joint YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn accounts. The Marketing department is responsible for the security of passwords and upkeep of these accounts. The Marketing Manager grants access to other members of staff to administer groups and post content on the various platforms. Any content deemed negative, inappropriate, or not in line with the aforementioned values can and will be removed.

Chorus members ARE NOT permitted to create additional public chorus pages on any social media platforms. If the Marketing Team becomes aware of any such pages, steps will be taken to have them permanently deleted.

Any groups or profiles created exclusively for and by any chorus members must be done so under Private settings.

Personal vs. Private

As a general rule, “personal” and “private” are not the same. Due to the capacities of search engines and the possibility of dialogues or personal posts being shared / forwarded by individuals, personal conversations within social media networks should be considered public rather than private.

3 What Should You Say Online?

Best Practices and Recommendations:

Think of CNN, your mother and your boss: do not say anything online that you would not be comfortable seeing quoted on CNN, being asked about by your mother, or having to justify to your boss.

A healthy dialogue with constructive criticism can be useful, but refrain from engaging in conversations that could disparage colleagues, competitors, or critics.

Be present and responsive and you will gain visibility, credibility, and value. Remember, what you have to say matters.

1. Be an Ambassador

Whether or not you utilize social media platforms is your personal decision. However, you should always be aware that your behavior, opinions, conversations, and tone reflect on the organization.

2. Be Passionate

Passion is contagious. Share the passion you feel for your work and the organization, talk about successes you have been a part of, focus on positive experiences you’ve shared, and encourage others to do the same.

3. Write What You Know

You have a unique perspective on our organization based on your skills, talents, and responsibilities. Share your knowledge, interests, and personality in your posts by writing what you know. If you’re interesting and authentic, you’ll attract readers who understand your specialty. Don’t spread gossip, hearsay or assumptions!

4. Add Value

The Choruses believe that sharing of information and experiences ultimately benefits the entire LGBT community and beneficiaries we serve. If Chorus staff/volunteers/members are perceived to be knowledgeable and helpful, this will reflect positively on you and the organization. 4 Use common sense. Be cautious of internal or confidential information. If in doubt, ask the owner of the information you want to share how best to move forward. Refrain from commenting on the work of colleagues in this or other organizations that are outside your field of expertise.

5. Use a Disclaimer

If you have personal social media accounts on which you discuss work- related issues, add a disclaimer to each page clearly indicating that the views expressed are yours alone. Be aware that a disclaimer does not free you from your ties to the organization.

Example: “The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent positions, strategies, or opinions of the Choruses.”

If you have an “About Me” page, we advise against using photos that incorporate any of the organization’s emblems or logos, as this may give the website or blog an official appearance.

6. Be the First to Admit a Mistake

If you make a mistake, be upfront about it: admit and correct any errors. If you correct an earlier post, do so visibly:

Example: “Update, July 4, 2012: The choruses sang 500 songs- not 5,000 as I previously wrote.”

7. Connect with Colleagues and Spread the Word

Connect with your fellow staff/volunteers/chorus members through social networks. Take the opportunity to not only talk about yourself, but also about the successes of others.

5 8. Respect Copyright Rules

Properly cite all sources and consider terms of service when posting material online. Simply, give credit to those who influence your work, and seek permission when necessary.

What is the organization’s Photo Policy?

The organization hires professional photographers to capture all Chorus concerts and events to ensure that we present the best quality images possible. Chorus members are permitted to take photographs backstage during performances and rehearsals. However, you must have the expressed permission of those being photographed, to take, post, and share any photos. Chorus members may NOT take photos on stage at any time.

Any and all Chorus members are invited to share their backstage and ‘behind-the-scenes’ photographs with Marketing staff. By emailing your photos to [email protected], you grant FHP permission to post these images across the organization’s social media platforms. Again, you must always have expressed permission of those photographed before sharing your photos.

Closing Remarks

The benefits of Social Media for Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus are vast. These platforms grant the opportunity to increase visibility and engagement in the community while honing our message and tailoring audience perception. Additionally, we can develop targeted marketing strategies, identify new/potential audiences, measure the frequency of discussion about our brand, and increase traffic to the website.

Your informed, purposeful, and professional use of Social Media networks plays a vital role in the organization’s overall success.

The Marketing department is happy to assist any staff/volunteers/chorus members in using Social Media networks. When in doubt, ask for help!

*A portion of the information included in the “What is New and Social Media?” section was adapted from the Social Media Guidelines of the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.