The tweets, Instagram posts, and daily shares on social media did not come with a rule book. Unfortunately, some of these posts have cost people their jobs, got them in legal trouble, or lost a five-figure settlement. Therefore, proper online etiquette is vital for many reasons. Remember, even your accounts are not as personal as you may think. Plus, anything you post online stays online for a long time. Thus, as you enjoy the more Instagram likes you are getting, ensure you follow some of the social media etiquette rules below.
- Don’t mix business and pleasure
Influencers get the honor to post inspiring or outrageous things on their social platforms, for they are getting paid for it. But if your job needs you to maintain your social media account with your name on it only. Avoid using it to share photos of a new puppy, boyfriend, or where you spent the nightclubbing. For this type of engagement, it is best to have a separate account. Have handles for business and another for pleasure. Keep in mind work concerns should outweigh your concerns. Know what to share and what to keep private.
- Avoid oversharing
Occasionally you can share how you had a good dinner last night or what your pets are up to when you get home. However, oversharing can be a little of a nuisance. Such as posting your milk choice every morning is one way to bore your friends and followers, and you lose them faster. You may think it is okay your account is not for professional purposes. But, remember your social presence is your brand. You want your brand to be engaging, interesting, and represent your best characteristics. Thus, do not dilute it with irrelevant posts.
- Use caution tagging and posting photos
Tagging candid or unflattering photos by friends can sometimes be overwhelming, and you may not appreciate it. If you feel this way about tags from friends, avoid putting them in the same position. For instance, if you post a group photo, ask permission before tagging your friends. Also, ensure your profile pictures on your business pages are professional. If it is a business page, use a logo image, it is more appropriate than your picture.
- Don’t get social when not yourself
You may be having jet lag, lack of sleep, drunk, or having a bad day. No matter what you are going through that makes you feel not yourself, it’s a sign not to use any form of social media. If you do, you will break all the social media etiquette rules. Until you are in a better frame of mind, avoid social media. Also, it is not wise to vent digitally after a fight with your spouse or a hard day at work. The consequences will be hard to face later. Chances are, you may say something that can damage your professional or personal reputation.
- Be self-centered in small doses
If you use your social media pages for marketing your professional side. Before you tweet, post, or share anything, you need to think about how people interpret it. To be on the safe side, use the engagement template to post. The rule is to share four pieces of content from someone else when you post something about yourself. In this way, you change the focus and balance your posts on your page. Users and followers will find you engaging and not boring. Also, it is vital to winning them over.
- Don’t misrepresent yourself
Dishonesty can have consequences on social media if you keep at it. This is because it feels safe and easy to misrepresent yourself when you hide behind your screen. But the innocent embellishments on your socials like inventing an impressive title from your previous job can get you canned. Do not use social media to get credit for the achievements of your coworkers. Many people fall victim to this, and it degrades your brand makes you lose opportunities that could have come your way. Remember, your social media presence should inspire, not cause regret, and anything you share should stand out within the rules of social media etiquette.
