Guidelines for Social Media Participation

Because of social networks, our words are more powerful than we realize. This can both work for us and against us so before you start posting on your Facebook or Twitter account, remember some of these Rules of Engagement…

1. Think before  you post.

When engaging in social networks it is important that you are transparent and stick to who you are but remember that what you say can be seen by anyone and everyone. Someone I know used to trash a popular brand on twitter because of a bad after-sales service that he got. A few months after, a headhunter called him and set him up for an interview with the company handling that brand. However, that didn’t pan out because the company looked at his social media accounts and found his negative remarks and the company probably thought “Well if he doesn’t like us so much then he wouldn’t like working here.” They didn’t call him back.

There are a lot of horror stories out there on facebook and twitter – bosses learning about their employees’ thoughts, parents learning about their kids’ sex lives, and lots of other embarrassing posts that people posted without giving a single thought to it. Remember these horror stories before you post and always be prepared for possible backlash.

2. Use common sense or common courtesy.

You should always respect copyright and fair use. We learned in school that plagiarism is bad and its even worse online. When you rip off somebody’s article, artwork or ideas – it can ruin your online reputation in an instant.

3. If you write about something negative, be aware of your behavior.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion and if you feel like doing so make sure that you have a clear head. I’ve made a restaurant review in the past and gave bad points for the service but it was not something I regretted. The restaurant learned from it and made the service better. If in the future your opinion changes then do not forget to post about that too. I firmly believe that good reviews are as important as bad ones – give praises when they are due. Post diplomatically.

4. Respect your audience.

Don’t use ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity, or engage in conduct that you will regret in the future.

5. Write what you know.

Make sure you write and post about what you know. Sure you can post about your ‘feelings’ but remember that social networks are interactive and are platforms for conversation. Look things up before talking about them. Do the work, research.

6. If you screw up, admit it.

If and when you realize your mistake, be upfront and quick with your correction. If you posted on your blog, modify an earlier post or make a follow up post about it.

One of the biggest mistakes people make (whether for themselves or for brands they manage) is they engage in social media without establishing some guidelines. Remember these guidelines before you post anything online. With social media comes great responsibility!