You or your company may have implemented blogs, podcasts, wikis, and other new media. Or, maybe you haven’t yet. Either way, employees across your company are getting involved with Web 2.0 — somewhere. They’re on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or LinkedIn. They’re commenting or reading comments on Shopper.com, Yelp, or Amazon. It’s also fairly likely some of your employees log on to industry forums to ask questions or offer answers.

Whether or not your company is actively implementing new media, it’s important to have a set of guidelines that helps employees understand the rules when they speak online as an employee. Several companies including IBM, Sun, and the BBC post their social media guidelines. You can review these to get some ideas.

Here are several items I like to include. The focus is on responsible participation. Don’t forget to run the guidelines you produce through legal review before you post them.

1. Don’t be anonymous. Always identify who you are and what company you work for.

2. Only designated employees speak “on behalf” of the company. Everyone else speaks for themselves.

3. Be personal (share a little about yourself), but protect your privacy.

4. Respect others. (Need I say more?)

5. Consider the content carefully. It will be on the Web and in search results for a long, long time.

6. Respect copyright, trademark, and fair use laws (use links instead of excerpts, always give attribution).

7. Protect confidential and financial information (for your company and every other company)

8. The company’s Employee Rules of Conduct (or similar employee guide) applies online.

9. Become part of the industry conversation, link to other’s, and have fun.

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Wow, it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged. So busy. I presented at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston last week. They put on some event. Spared no expense. Rock band. Ballmer. 7,500 partners. Impressive.

When I present at big events, I get all geared up to make a good impression, do a great job. Possibly interest new consulting clients. That’s all well and good. But I’m finding it’s those little moments, boarding an airplane, sitting down next to someone at lunch, where I often make the best connections. And I’ve built some long-lasting relationships in those little moments.

I used to travel 150,000-200,000 miles a year and while waiting in the airport and sitting on a plane, I would bury my face in the dozens of trade publications, reports, and books I needed to read. I didn’t like being interrupted.  All those missed opportunities. Gone for good.

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