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Social media accounts policy

Co-op branded social accounts are not permitted for a Food store, area, region, department, depot or Funeralcare home. Co-op branding is only permitted for the main Co-op Group accounts, which are managed by the support centre.

There are several reasons independent Co-op accounts are no longer permitted, including ensuring all messages which are pushed out by Co-op branded accounts are ASA compliant and meet all marketing legal regulations, which helps ensure we are not prosecuted for any incorrect messages. People in your local community are also more likely to engage with you on social media if you’re a genuine person (yourself), not a brand/logo. In fact, they’re also 10x more likely to trust something that is posted by a person, not a brand.

Some colleagues do prefer to have a separate social media account as themselves to share updates about their work, including things they have done and news about Co-op. This is fine, as long as your new account still looks like a real person, the real you! Here are some tips on how to do this.

If you have any questions or would like to ensure your profile is not breeching the social accounts policy, just drop us a DM on @coopukcolleague or email us at social@coop.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help you.

Please also remember that every time you post on social media you need to abide by the social media policy, which you can find here.

What should I be sharing?

  • community stories & local causes #ItsWhatWeDo
  • celebration/payout days with local causes #ItsWhatWeDo
  • own brand products you’ve enjoyed #ItsWhatWeDo & #TasteAndTell
  • volunteering efforts #BeingCoop
  • team events & personal achievements #BeingCoop
  • if you’re voting in our AGM #ItsWhatWeDo
  • celebrating Pride #PrideInCoop
  • working at a festival #BeingCoop

Have you heard about Social Hub?

Social Hub is a great place to access lots of amazing Co-op social media content, designed to be shared by colleagues straight to their social media profiles in exchange for points. And points = prizes. You can find out more and sign up to Social Hub here:. All the content is branded and approved by Co-op, meaning you can share approved Co-op messages, news and campaign as yourself to help shout about the amazing work Co-op and our colleagues are doing.

On Twitter

Twitter is an open platform, meaning you can have great, engaging conversations with your friends, brands and people who have similar interests to you.

  • use hashtags on Twitter to join in with conversations. For example location-based hashtags like __#Manchester__, Co-op hashtags like __#ItsWhatWeDo__ or Trending hashtags like __#TogetherMCR__
  • check out our YouTube series called [Skills for your community](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKUl5Bmu1ZHuzzThniuU9tfnVSwiCexQ) which has lots of tips and tricks on how best to use social media.
  • like & follow Co-op Colleagues on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/coopukcolleague)
  • retweet, like & share posts you see on Co-op’s [Twitter](https://twitter.com/coopuk/)
  • update your social media bio on Twitter to introduce and identify yourself, you can include where you work (e.g. Colleague @coopuk)
  • add our [Twibbon](https://twibbon.com/Support/join-us-11) to your Twitter profile image
### On Facebook Facebook is a closed platform, meaning people can set up profiles which mean only their friends and family who they have connected with can see their content. People also go to Facebook to connect with people in community groups, so you still have great opportunities to engage with others. Groups and pages on Facebook should not use any Co-op branding. Here’s some tips to help you engage on this platform as yourself:
  • join local community groups on Facebook and share news and events on behalf of your Co-op in there
  • check out our YouTube series called [Skills for your community](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKUl5Bmu1ZHuzzThniuU9tfnVSwiCexQ) which has lots of tips and tricks on how best to use social media.
  • like & follow Co-op Colleagues on [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/coopukcolleague)
  • like & share posts you see on Co-op’s Facebook
  • join our [Co-op Communities Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/coopukcommunities) to share with local causes and Member Pioneers
  • add our [Frame](https://www.facebook.com/Coopukcolleague/posts/10154957460970986) to your Facebook profile image
### On Instagram People generally go to Instagram for inspiration and education on cultural topics, using hashtags like Twitter to find posts relating to specific topics. Here’s some tips to help you engage on this platform as yourself:
  • share photos and videos on Instagram whilst using the location function
  • use hashtags on Instagram to join in with conversations. For example location-based hashtags like __#Manchester__, Co-op hashtags like __#ItsWhatWeDo__ or Trending hashtags like __#TogetherMCR__
  • check out our YouTube series called [Skills for your community](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKUl5Bmu1ZHuzzThniuU9tfnVSwiCexQ) which has lots of tips and tricks on how best to use social media.
  • like & share (re-share using an App or share to your Instagram stories) posts you see on Co-op’s Instagram
  • update your social media bio on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/coopuk/) to introduce and identify yourself, you can include where you work (e.g. Colleague @coopuk)

Here are some tips and tricks on engaging your local community as yourself

  • check out our YouTube series called [Skills for your community](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKUl5Bmu1ZHuzzThniuU9tfnVSwiCexQ) which has lots of tips and tricks on how best to use social media.
  • subscribe to the [Colleague Stories blog](https://colleaguestories.coop.co.uk)
  • update your LinkedIn profile to include where you work (we’re Co-op on LinkedIn)
    • Things you should know
  • Contact the Social Media team [social@coop.co.uk](mailto:social@coop.co.uk) if you have any questions
  • [Co-op social media principles](https://digitalblog.coop.co.uk/our-social-principles/)
  • [Co-op colleague social media policy](https://colleagues.coop.co.uk/social-media-policy)
  • [Co-op social media community policy](https://www.coop.co.uk/terms/social-media-policy)