What?s Appropriate to Post on Social Media for Businesses?
Social media began as a tool for friends to communicate and it grew into a vehicle for all types of communications. If you are using social media for your business here are some great tips for ensuring it's appropriate.
People use social media for a variety of purposes, sometimes at random. Other users generate a plan and utilize social media to reach specific goals or milestones. That leaves a lot of room to express thoughts and ideas creatively. However, when it comes to using social media for professional marketing purposes, it?s essential to understand the appropriate way to craft social media content.
Keep It Professional
Before you hit the send button on any social post, ask yourself this question. Would I say this in front of my boss or a potential client? Sometimes using colorful language can be tempting in order to emphasize a statement or idea, but if it is not something that would fly in a business transaction then it shouldn?t be posted on your social either. This includes overtly sexual content or innuendos, strong political statements, and religious viewpoints ? if none of these are connected with your company or brand.
Be Discreet
While your audience is going to want to get to know you better, there is a fine line between establishing familiarity and giving too much away. Keep the private details about your life or work where they belong ? offline. Steer clear of gossip and negative commentary about people you know or work with. In fact, don?t post negative complaints or whine about your company or the work you do. The same can be said about boasting too much or too loudly. Showcase the type of personality you would like to get to know better and potentially work with.
Don?t Be Hasty
Proofread your writing?every time. Do your best to be grammatically sound. Look for typos. Read it out loud to look for missteps in voice or tone. If you can, have someone look over it for you. It is astounding how one simple error can be seen as a lack of intelligence. Check your links out before sharing them, as you never know where they might actually lead.
Images
A business social media platform is no place for selfies. Get some professional headshots done. Be certain the photo shoot has been designed to stay true to your brand and online persona. Also, ensure any other images you post are professional in nature and on brand. Your audience will notice and remember your posted images long after they?ve forgotten your message.
See this image I use for my #MotivationalMonday posts. People like to see smiling faces, offering you inspiration & motivation. What I really want you to take notice of is I have branded myself through the colors I'm wearing and with my company logo on the image.
Branding
It?s important for any business to create and maintain a brand for their company. Social media is an important touch-point for branding and all posts should be molded with this in mind. Don?t mix your personal and business social posts. If you are going to post personal information in order to attain more rapport with your followers, be sure to keep it on brand and relevant.
Moderation
Have a plan in place to monitor comments and tags on all your platforms. Don?t allow your hard work to be damaged by someone else's lack of professionalism. There are companies that will target a social page and spam it, sometimes with extremely inappropriate material. This can damage your reputation and viewership.
Just like crafting a work email, it takes effort and intention in order to use social media for business in an appropriate way. Just like with your real-life reputation, your online personality is molded by your words and actions. This will determine who wants to follow and do business with you.
Let me know what you think. Do you have other tips for using social media for your business? Please share!
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