Tracking Your Social Media Channels

If you have:

• More than 2-3 social media channels (including blogs/websites, etc).
• More than one personal managing and/or accessing these accounts

Then, you need to find a way to monitor your social media channels appropriately.

For this reason, it is often recommended that organisations should keep a Social Media Channels Master List*.

Social Media Security. (Photo by: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

What is a Social Media Channels Master List?

It is basically a spreadsheet that tracks all of your social media accounts: Email addresses used, usernames, passwords, hints, names of people who have access to these accounts, and other notes that you might have about each account.

It is important to keep this spreadsheet in one safe, central location, so that people can’t change details without other people knowing about it. Some organisations opt to keep these spreadsheets in their internal server folders, whilst others choose a cloud service like Microsoft’s SkyDrive or Live.com or Google Drive or Docs.

Is it safe to keep a master list like this?

Ideally, it is best not to have your accounts’ passwords lying around for easy access. And, if you’re just an individual accessing these accounts, your best bet is to use a password manager. However, when there’s more than one person managing the accounts, then things can get really tricky. That’s why a master list like this can be handy.

To keep things safe, it is suggested that:

• The master list spreadsheet should be placed in a secure location that won’t be easily accessed by unauthorised individuals.
• If you’re able to add a master password to the spreadsheet, this is recommended.
• Regularly change your passwords and update the master list whenever you change them. Let authorized people know that passwords have been changed, just in case they don’t check the master list and they get locked out.
• Do a regular check of who has access to the accounts. Former staff members should be removed as managers of the accounts as soon as possible.

Over to you

How do you handle your different social media accounts for your organisation? Do you have any valuable tips that you can share?

*Access Social Media Channels Master List

You can access the Social Media Channels Master List when you subscribe to Vervelycious, our free e-newsletter. The password for the exclusive resource will be released for the January 2013 issue.

If you miss the issue and/or you wish to have immediate access to the spreadsheet template, do join VIP Circle as a Premium Member. Membership is affordable and you get access to all our exclusive resources in Vervely’s digital library.