There are etiquette guides for everything from dining to chewing gum. So, you really shouldn’t be shocked that there are customs and courtesies for social media.
Social Media Etiquette is a real thing, and here is all you need to know.
Etiquettes are created after careful observation of what people react to and help you to create a more likable persona. Businesses, in particular, need to adhere to these rules quite strictly, because Social Media is an unforgiving public forum. A wrong move can send you spiraling into a huge black hole of disaster, and you’d have a serious mess in your hands, not to mention, the scar on your brand reputation.
Okay, maybe we scared you a little too much. But being polite and respectful on Social Media is an important responsibility among all the brands that are present on Social Media. Your online presence and reputation are as important as the product itself.
You can use these rules to ensure your business has a valuable and respectful presence on Social Media.
1. Have complete Social Media Profiles
Social media profiles that are half baked look extremely unprofessional. It gives people the notion that you do not take your work seriously or are not as enthusiastic and passionate about what you do.
Take your time when you fill in the details. Have a professional fill out the sections that need content if you are unable to write it on your own.
2. Don’t Mix Business with Pleasure
There are some people who get paid to post extremely outrageous and crazy things on their Social Media, but don’t let this affect you. If you are a mere mortal, like most others, you are exempted from this privilege. Be professional with what you post to adhere to the Social Media Etiquette.
This means no tags or photos from your night out and profane language on your posts or captions. If you want to keep an account with posts of these kinds, first see if it fits into your brand image, and if it does, keep a separate account for your experimentation and adventures.
3. Avoid Confusing Your Clients With Multiple Profiles
If you choose to keep your personal and professional personas separate on social media, be sure you’re consistent with the types of content you share via your business profile so your clients know which account to follow.
That means, a link to your latest blog post comes from your business page and a video of your dog chasing his favorite toy in the backyard comes from your personal page.
4. Regulate your sense of Humour
You could add your personal thoughts, but don’t overdo it with your trademark booger jokes unless your company is about nasal drops or in a similar domain. Basically your humor should be well placed and appropriate for your brand image.
5. #Don’t #Overuse #Hashtags Social Media Etiquette #SoManyTags
Appropriate hashtags connect your post to all the other posts of that topic and hashtag. It’s also a very convenient way to categorize your content on social media networks and it is easier to search for your posts later. But overusing hashtags is a social media crime. Not only does it look hideous, but it also doesn’t really help your cause. When used appropriately, hashtags will increase your online visibility and eventually, your followers.
6. Avoid Oversharing
As depressing as it may sound, no one wants to know anything and everything about you and your company. Your social media feeds aren’t an inner monologue. Your personal accounts are a big part of your personal brand, and you are the face that represents your company.
You have to be very aware of what goes up on both your business and personal accounts. Be interesting, be engaging. Let your page have fragments of your best characteristics, not scads of irrelevant posts.
7. Different Platforms, Different Practices
While these basic social media etiquette principles are broadly applicable on all platforms, each platform has its own subcategory of separate etiquettes.
For example, you can have casual posts on Facebook, but you’d prefer to keep your presence on LinkedIn formal. Read up relevant articles as trends keep changing and you should keep up with the times because that is what Social Media is all about.
Social media has tremendous power, and you need to learn to wield it, by training yourself, keeping yourself updated, and having a great sense of what will work for you. It is a dog-eat-dog world and your competitors won’t be very forging if you commit a blunder. They will try to run you into the ground.
So, be respectful, follow the rules, be creative, and have a great time trying to boost your views and sales.
Do you have any other social media etiquette tips to share?
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