Army publishes new social media guide

The Army’s Public Affairs Office today released its January 2011 social media handbook to provide guidance, case studies, advanced tips and best practices to today’s soldiers and their families. The Army determined that last year’s book only “scratched the surface” of the Army’s social media use, reports Ash McCall on the Army Live blog.

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The new handbook contains sections on:

• Social media practices for soldiers, Army personnel and families.
• Social media standards for Army leaders.
• Security tips.
• Establishing and maintaining an Army social media presence.
• Using social media in crisis communications.
• Checklists.
• Army branding.
• Social media case studies.
• Regulations.

“Today, it takes more than press releases to successfully communicate,” writes Stephen R. Lanza, chief of Army Public Affairs, in the handbook.

“Being an effective Army communicator today relies on proactive planning, nesting messages, engaging audiences on a variety of platforms, monitoring what is being said both online and in traditional media, and taking a proactive role in telling the Army’s story,” he added.

There are sections dedicated to the correct and incorrect ways to post messages so as not to endanger troops.

Click here to see the full guide.