Social Media Etiquette

Social media networks a great way to connect with others, but etiquette rules apply.

Social media networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are great ways for people to make and maintain connections with others. Although these interactions occur on the computer, remember that what you share is not private. A good rule of thumb is to think about what you would say in front of a crowd at a party because social media encounters are similar. There are certain etiquette rules you should follow, especially if you are networking with business associates.

Language

Although many interactions on social media networks take place with friends, it is important to use appropriate language. Keep profanity to a minimum. If you are using the social networks for business purposes, use the same type of professional communication you would in any other workplace encounter. Do not post when you are tired or angry.

Topics

Keep people interested in reading your updates by discussing interesting topics, but steer clear of controversial subjects. Complaints and overly personal details about negative events in your life are not recommended. If you are looking to promote a business or just want to be a popular user in your social network, post frequently with high-quality content that solicits the input of others.

Be Helpful

People want a personal connection, so listen well and appear genuinely interested in others. Remember to post greetings on people's birthdays, congratulate them when they write about accomplishments or milestones and offer advice when you can. If someone asks you a question, answer it promptly. Always follow up when others leave comments for you.

Frequency

While it is good to post regularly, you do not want to post new updates so frequently that people get tired of seeing posts from you. How often you can post varies by the social media format; you can get an idea of how much is appropriate by observing other users. Responses to others are always acceptable, regardless of frequency.

Don't Spam

Spam is any unwanted communication, and this is especially risky for businesses maintaining a social media presence. While you want to maintain frequent communication with customers, you don't want to seem like you are constantly hammering them with advertisements. If you are a personal user instead of a business, it is also possible to spam people with unwelcome requests to play online games.

Vigilance

It is not just enough to watch what you post on social media networks. You must also maintain vigilance about what others are posting about you and on your profile. If people are posting inappropriate pictures of you, you can remove the link to you or ask the person to take down the picture. If people are posting profane or offensive posts on your profile, you can delete the posts and remove the person as one of your contacts if necessary.

References

• Forbes: Social Media Etiquette
• Digital Labz: 11 Rules of Social Media Etiquette
• Techipedia: Social Media Etiquette Handbook