If you’ve decided that it’s time for your practice to have a social media presence, it’s also time to start thinking about how you’re going to keep these pages secure. While major social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ all have strict security guidelines in place, they aren’t completely immune to the attacks of cyber criminals. In fact, even major companies like Yahoo have fallen prey to hackers – the Yahoo News Twitter account was recently, with hackers tweeting about a false Ebola outbreak in Atlanta. In a field where reputation is key, it’s important to take the proper steps to safeguard your accounts against these unwanted attacks. Keep reading to learn about some of the ways you can protect your social media pages.
5 Tips for Protecting Your Social Media Accounts
- Create a secure password. While you may be tempted to create a password that’s short and easy to remember, this can leave you vulnerable to attacks. Instead, create a unique password using a mixture of numbers, letters, and symbols, and be sure to change these passwords at least once or twice a year.
- Be aware of who can access your pages. Rather than allowing your entire office to access your social media pages, limit access to a select few who you trust. Designate who will be responsible for posting to or managing your page, and make sure only they know your login information. If one of these employees leaves, change your passwords so they will no longer be able to access your pages.
- Pay attention to third-party applications. There are a number of third-party applications that can be linked to your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Routinely check which applications are linked to your social media pages, and revoke access from any apps you don’t recognize or fully trust.
- Monitor your pages daily. Keeping a close, watchful eye on your social media pages can alert you to any unusual changes or activity. Visit your pages at least once a day and proactively search for unusual activity, like spam messages or unauthorized changes.
- Have a strategy in place if a breach occurs. If you do fall victim to a security breach, it’s important to have a recovery plan set in place. This should include password changes to all relevant social media accounts, a post informing your followers or fans of the breach, and the swift deletion or editing of anything that may have been posted or changed.
Reputation is important for any brand, but it’s especially crucial in the medical field. By taking the steps to keep your social media pages safe and secure, you can help keep your brand and reputation intact.
Let MyAdvice Help
If you’re looking to build a social media presence for your practice but don’t have the time to do it yourself, let MyAdvice help! We offer a number of different social media plans to meet the unique, individual needs of your practice. Contact an MyAdvice representative today to learn more.
