At this time, social media is seen as an all-pervasive force. People nowadays would ask for someone’s Instagram handle before their phone number; people are more cautious about who they let access to their Facebook page than their email address, and social media users must be more aware of the type of information they choose to share. The ever-changing globe affects not only social media users but also businesses attempting to establish a digital presence.
Consider all of the tiny businesses you’ve encountered through social media. So, how many ideas did you come up with? You should’ve done it! Small businesses have used social media to sell themselves in over 96 per cent of cases. Furthermore, as of this year, social media has become the most widely used B2B digital marketing strategy. Some companies are even turning to social media as their major marketing and consumer engagement channel. But hold on, it’s not as simple as it appears. You can only use social media to your benefit once you’ve learned how to use it properly and effectively. Here are our top social media dos and don’ts for boosting your company’s marketing.
Businesses have used social media for everything from advertising to lead generation to conversions to even hiring and growing teams. But, today more than ever, we’re seeing marketers struggle to find the sweet spot on social media that will set their accounts apart from the competition. Let us start by saying that it’s acceptable if your social media strategy has become static. You can get things back on track, and we’re here to assist you in doing so. So, with these 20 Do’s and Don’ts, we’ll assist you to move closer to your goals.
When used appropriately, social media may benefit businesses in a variety of ways, and it can also help personal brands build a strong online reputation. In this post, you’ll learn the dos and don’ts of using social media for business, as well as how to use best practices and prevent social media blunders.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are important social media platforms for businesses and individuals to produce and share content. However, there are several social media dos and don’ts that can have a significant impact on the success of any content sharing. Following these recommendations when creating a social media marketing plan can help ensure that the time and attention you put into your strategy is well worth it. Negative news can spread like wildfire on social media at times, so it’s critical for businesses and brands to know how to manage a potentially catastrophic scenario with caution.
Protecting your online reputation begins with a thorough understanding of internet privacy and professional online behaviour. Most organisations, institutions, and universities now use social media to monitor their staff and pupils. Many are even leveraging social media to locate the most professional, highest-quality applicants for critical hiring and admittance decisions. New customers can use social media accounts to find product and service reviews from other customers, which might influence their decision to trust your company.
There are various things that should be done while using social media for business when it comes to the dos and don’ts of social media. The following are some social media “do’s”:
Do: Set Privacy Settings
First and foremost, it is critical to comprehend the various privacy options available on social media platforms, as well as when and how to utilise them. You’ll probably want to make your posts and profile public for a business or professional account so that you can quickly market your brand and engage with others in your sector. It is recommended that you establish specific privacy settings for a personal account so that only friends, family, and individuals you approve may access your postings and information. In certain circumstances, it’s advisable to keep your personal and professional profiles separate, registering for each sort of site with a different email address. While sharing some personal information is acceptable and even advantageous, you don’t want to risk an unprofessional post or a personal post being misunderstood in poor light on your professional reputation.
Do: Think Before You Post
Even if your social media profiles are set to private, keep in mind that everything on the Internet is permanent and can be posted publicly. Anyone with access to the Internet can save, print, or screenshot anything they find. While there are methods to request the removal of unpleasant content from specific posts, photographs, or articles, the damage has already been done once they hit the internet.
Do: Be Selective of Who You Follow & Who Follows You
Many people feel that following a large number of accounts and having a large number of followers will help them boost their social media presence and stand out online. However, these figures are meaningless unless you engage with the correct audience and community. Following or being followed by bogus spam accounts might harm your online reputation.
These accounts frequently post phoney articles containing malware or instructions on how to hack into your account. Even your own friends who follow you on social media should be cautious. If you have a buddy who is likely to post something with which you do not want to be associated professionally, it may be best to keep your association purely offline. Being tagged in a single incorrect photo or post might damage your online reputation.
Do: Double Check Spelling Errors
While this may appear to be a small issue, especially when sending a casual tweet or message, it is still vital to check spelling and grammar to ensure that the message you are attempting to convey is received accurately. Employers, colleagues, and other online users will perceive your posts as careless and sluggish if they contain frequent language and spelling errors. Another reason to double-check your post before posting it is to guarantee that nothing was accidentally changed by autocorrect. There are numerous websites dedicated to exposing autocorrect errors and misconceptions that can completely turn an everyday conversation on its head and leave you wishing you had taken that extra second to double check.
Though it may be tempting to test every new social media network, stay focused on what works. Because every business and individual is unique, preferences for social media accounts may differ. Pay attention to where your most engaged consumers and followers are. Providing high-quality content on platforms with the most engaged people will yield the most return.
Do: Be Consistent With Posting
“Consistency in social media posting is vital because customers would expect posts from the business they connect with on a regular basis,” explains Susu Wong, owner of Tomo360. If you’re a restaurant owner, for example, and you routinely run a Wednesday Special menu on Instagram and Facebook, your fans will be looking for it, which is a great way to increase interaction.”
Do: Images & Videos
When posting on social media, photos and videos should be used to augment the content. Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok are all visual-heavy platforms that may help you engage your audience and share your narrative.
The importance of first impressions cannot be overstated. Consider your social media profiles to be your online first impression. Partially filled social media accounts naturally appear less professional. Take a few minutes to fill up your entire profile, including your contact information, and submit high-quality profile and cover photographs.
DO: Separate business and personal.
It’s beneficial to keep your personal and professional social media profiles separate when creating a brand. Your clients will know which account to follow if you are consistent with the types of content you provide on your business page. You also don’t bother friends and relatives who follow you on social media for personal updates. A link to your most recent blog post, for example, should be on your business page, while a video of your dog in the backyard should appear on your personal page.
What you post becomes a representation of you and your business. Be proud of who you are and what you represent as a business while staying aware of the image you’re crafting as a result of the content you share. Consider factors like who your audience is, what’s expected on that particular platform, and which content makes you look like an expert. Use this infographic from HootSuite as a guide if you’re unsure your content is a fit. 
DO: Post regularly.
The big question is: how frequently should you interact with your online community? This will vary based on your company and industry, but at least once or twice a week is a decent rule of thumb. If you post too infrequently, you’ll miss out on opportunities to raise brand awareness, but if you post too regularly, you’ll anger your followers. OutboundEngine posts on behalf of clients roughly 2-3 times per week. This keeps new information in front of our clients’ eyes while freeing up their time. Clients are permitted and encouraged to post on their own.
DO: Handle criticism gracefully.
The worst thing you can do if you run into a problem that generates a lot of negative feedback on social media is try to hide from it. Try not to become defensive and react as best you can. An outburst of rage in response to criticism can soon go viral (in a bad way). Work to resolve the problem and inform those who cared about it online when it’s done.
Be Unique and Engaging with your Sharing
Your branding is directly proportional to the content you share and that is why it is very important to ensure a representation of you and/or your business that translates your uniqueness and expertise in the most convincing way possible. You should be proud of who you are and what your business talks about, as this adds credibility to your brand voice and creates a ground for healthy discussion on the related Social Channels
Do Make Relationships
One of the most crucial do’s when it comes to Social Media Do’s and Don’ts is to use it to maintain existing relationships while also building new ones. Knowing how often you should engage with your target audiences is critical to building a successful relationship. It would be highly beneficial to use Social Media technologies that automate changes to clients’ social media profiles in this situation.
Do Prioritize Your Networks
The Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Guide forbids you from trying every available or new social network. You should concentrate on the networks that are most appropriate for your company and tailor your audience accordingly. LinkedIn is very valuable and is thought to be the best for B2B firms, while Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, among other social media platforms, can also help with B2C and B2B marketing depending on your target market.
Do Regularly Interact with Your Audience
Regular interaction with your followers via helpful information is beneficial, as is regular interaction with your followers. If you observe a question or remark to which you have an answer, you should respond with a pleasant message. You can seek recommendations from your contacts and friends. Making connections online, just as you do in real life, is critical for social media marketing success. Here’s an example of a tweet that was responded to by Coca-Cola.
Do Entertain and Inform your Audience
Your social media updates should focus on entertaining and enlightening your audience rather than marketing your product or service. According to social media do’s and don’ts guides, the 80/20 rule states that 80 per cent of your post’s content should be instructive and entertaining, while only 20% should be salesy.
Do Use Right Content on Right Network
Understanding and developing content for each type of social media network has a distinct set of audiences, and understanding and creating content for each social media network is critical. Twitter is great for rapid-fire discussions, LinkedIn is best for corporate discussions, and Facebook is best for casual community participation.
Do Be Visually Appealing
Photos and videos are well-known for increasing engagement. Tweets containing photos receive 18% more hits, 89 percent more likes, and 150 percent more retweets than those without. Offering visual engagement on social media platforms is particularly useful if your business relies largely on visuals.
Maintain a consistent identity across all of your networks.
When publishing material on numerous social networks, it’s critical to maintain a consistent brand identity across all platforms.
You should aim to build a clear vision for your brand and then transmit that vision through various posts across all social media platforms. To make your business clearly recognisable, use the same profile photo, colour scheme, or business name.
Be generous, give credit, and consider your options before tagging.
Giving credit to writers while utilising their work is a good practice that will help you gain credibility. This can also assist you in making new contacts. Tagging should only be done if you have permission to do so, which is why you should try to get permission before doing so. Unwanted tagging might harm your brand’s image and cost you some followers and friends.
Experiment with new ideas, have fun and be picky.
Using new ideas and being creative will help you not only have fun but also make your posts more engaging and viral. You should use a variety of material kinds and keep your messages conversational. It is advisable to be selective while building connections and friends, and not to connect or accept every request that comes your way.
Maintain a positive attitude at all times.
To build a productive fan base on your social networks, you must have decent behaviour and avoid being disrespectful or pushy in your approach. Integrating good online behaviour makes your company accessible to people of all ages.
Make an effort to promote yourself organically and spread positivity.
Using social media for promotion is one of the most successful methods, but it must be done correctly. When creating a company account, it’s usually a good idea to make a new personal account as well, since this can help you develop traffic organically. Praise and encouraging comments on any post you enjoy are thought to be particularly helpful in spreading optimism. Share the things that make people happy and make them smile.
Check to see if your privacy settings are as secure as possible.
Most social networking services have a “Settings” area where these settings can be found and changed. Restricting access ensures that only those you trust, such as friends and family, have access to your personal information. People you don’t know won’t be able to access your profile if you configure your privacy settings, preventing online crimes like identity theft. 2. Ensure that you thoroughly screen any online friends or followers.
If you can’t limit your online circle to only your friends and family, make sure the “strangers” you accept are real individuals. Fake personas, used by identity thieves to “troll” or threaten people online, are a dime a dozen these days. You may become a victim if you are not cautious about who you allow into your social media circle.
DO NOT put anything on the internet that you wouldn’t say in person.
Remember that even if most social networking sites provide a “delete” option, anyone may still store your status updates, comments, images, and videos that you have placed online. Remember that anything you write on the internet is “permanent” and can be used against you. Can I say what I just said or comment to the person I’m criticising or even hint at if he or she is there in front of me?
If not, it’s best to find another approach to make your point — perhaps in a more gentle manner.
DO pay attention to what other people have to say on the internet.
Expect that not everyone will share your point of view. Remember, though, that having a different viewpoint on a subject is perfectly acceptable and does not necessarily imply that you are incorrect. If your arguments are based on facts, you may opt to debate with the person. You can also try to clarify your position, but you should never threaten someone simply because you don’t agree.
Respect their beliefs and never threaten them, especially with death threats, or you may face legal consequences.
DO be cautious about where you receive your information.
The internet is a treasure trove of data that anyone can access at any moment. Because of its accessibility, it has helped to raise awareness about a variety of issues and concepts. The availability of this information has sparked a flurry of internet debate.
When it comes to fraudulent websites and the bogus information they produce, though, it’s a different story. These are frequently posted and disseminated in order to defame an individual or a group. There are also times when these websites contain dangerous software that can harm your computer or even gain access to your personal information. To avoid this from happening, make sure you only acquire information from trustworthy websites. Avoiding disinformation can aid in the advancement of healthy online debates that are based on truth.
If you come across a website or a Facebook account that appears to be disseminating incorrect information, report it so that it can be shut down.
Most Do’s and Don’ts for Social Media recommend that everyone create complete and active social profiles on the networks that are most appropriate for their businesses, as this assures the necessary engagement.
Profiles that are just partially filled are not deemed credible. It’s best to pick a moniker or handle that accurately defines you. It’s critical to carefully fill out all of the profile information. Better credibility and result-driven recognition can be achieved by using logos and giving an effective portrayal of your personality.
Keep your business profiles consistent.
Consistency with the types of content you share is something that Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Guides always recommend when creating a Social profile to ensure some kind of conversion. If you run a company page and discuss a personal incident that has nothing to do with your business, your page will become irrelevant in the eyes of your target audience.
DO: Offer more assistance than you sell.
Who wants their news feed to be bombarded with sales offers all the time? Nobody. Even if you’re in business to generate money, the majority of your social media posts shouldn’t be about that. Remember the 80/20 rule here: The majority of the content you post or share should be entertaining or educational, with only 20% of your social media communication being direct to the items or services you offer.
DO: Make sure your content is appropriate for the platform.
Each social media platform has its own audience and purpose. It’s critical to understand this and match your content and tone to the appropriate social media venue if you want to be successful. Here’s how it works:
Facebook is laid-back, with an emphasis on connections and sub-communities. Joining relevant groups and engaging with people is not anything to be afraid of. Maintain a nice tone! LinkedIn is primarily geared toward business people, and the content exchanged there reflects this. It’s not the best location to share images of your children, for example.
Twitter is great for quick exchanges between businesses and individuals, but because of the character limit, it’s better for shorter posts. Instagram is ideal for sharing visual content, such as a real estate agent’s house listing or a baker’s handmade delights.
Consider using TikTok and/or YouTube if you have video-making talents and some free time. TikTok is ideal for short, engaging videos, but YouTube is best for longer videos. You can give industry-specific advice, answer frequently asked questions, and conduct virtual tours… the possibilities are endless.
DO: Pay close attention to your grammar and spelling.
It’s not the end of the world if you make a grammar or spelling mistake once in a while, but don’t make it a habit. Preparing your social media updates in a document or spreadsheet with spell check will help you prevent blunders. You can also have a coworker edit your work before sharing it, or use a service like Grammarly to spot more sophisticated errors. Before you share your post, read it aloud to catch any missing words or difficult-to-understand sentences.
DO: Use your imagination.
Consider using a relevant image in your text-only postings, as photos and videos can more than double your engagement on social media. If your profession is strongly reliant on graphics (such as real estate or interior design), you may benefit from spending more time on image-focused networks such as Instagram. However, keep in mind that Instagram users want high-quality images, so you’ll need to be a skilled photographer (or get help from someone who is).
DO: Give without expecting anything in return.
Patience and consistency will pay off. Investing time and effort in social media does not guarantee immediate benefits. You might, which is fantastic. Your reach may be slow at first, just like when you initially started your business. After that, you’ll cultivate contacts, establish a reputation, and formulate a strategy.
DO: Give credit to those who deserve it.
When you share an informative article or a beautiful image, credit the author or photographer to stay on the right side of social media etiquette. Take the time to identify the original post’s handle/account and mention it in your post. Also, thank everybody who mentions or retweets you. When you play well with people on social media, you can develop some fantastic relationships.
DO: Consider your options before tagging.
Tagging others in images is a terrific method to get your business in front of their friends, but think about it first. Are you tagging everyone you can think of in the hopes that they would follow you or promote your company? Or are you tagging people and businesses to start a conversation or to highlight something you love about them? Tagging someone unexpectedly can be a great way to surprise and please them, or it can cost you friends, admirers, and followers.
It’s tempting to test out every new social networking platform that pops up, but spreading yourself too thin might be risky. To begin, concentrate on the social media platforms where you know your clients are active. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and possibly Twitter are the most likely candidates. If you’re not clear where your greatest prospects spend their time, spend more time boosting your presence on those platforms and less time trying new ones. No matter what business you’re in, providing high-quality content on the top three networks is worth your time and effort.
Isn’t that very self-evident? Not always, especially when a company is just getting started. When you decide to enter the world of social media, remember to create completely fresh social media pages for your company. People frequently utilise personal accounts to share their thoughts and facts about their lives, and these accounts should not be linked to your company. Keep any personal or contentious thoughts off your business page, and you’ll be one step closer to social media success.
Create a blogging schedule and post on a regular basis.
The crazy has a method to it! Managing and maintaining a publishing schedule will assist both you as a business with a social media profile and your followers who desire consistency without being bombarded with information. Sendible or Buffer are two apps that can help you schedule when your material gets out on social media. Read our blog about social media marketing and scheduling social posts if you want to learn more about this topic.
Do interact with people and urge them to interact with you.
The level of engagement on social media is a key metric. Increased interaction is critical for a social media marketing plan, according to 64% of marketers. However, engagement is a two-way street, which means that when the opportunity arises, a company should make an effort to engage with followers and other businesses. This demonstrates social media participation and personability. You may also use polls on Instagram or Twitter to increase engagement. This increases interaction and allows you to collect feedback from your fans.
Do so in a professional but enjoyable manner.
Personal and company accounts should be kept distinct, but that doesn’t mean your social media presence can’t be entertaining and engaging for your followers! Maintaining a professional demeanour is vital, but you can also offer content that your followers will find intriguing. To achieve this, try writing posts in a friendly and engaging tone. Take, for example, this tweet:
When at all possible, use video.
Video content on sites such as YouTube and Facebook has come to dominate the attention of social media users. There is a balance in everything we post, but video content has been shown to be particularly engaging by social media users. Do, if you get the opportunity to use this, do so! Consider the length of your video before posting it on Facebook as simple advice. Facebook recently announced adjustments to video ranking that reward producer with higher rankings for films that keep viewers interested, particularly if the video is at least three minutes long.
It’s also been shown that live videos are watched three times longer than pre-recorded videos, so try providing more live video material to your Facebook fans. It’s straightforward, and it establishes a more direct link between you, your small business, and your customer. Facebook is fantastic, but don’t overlook YouTube! Click here for more information about YouTube’s potential and the best ways to use videos.
Use eye-catching visuals.
Content is continuously pouring through our day-to-day lives in today’s social media-heavy society. Our attention spans have been reduced to that of a goldfish as a result of this! Because the human brain processes images at such a rapid rate, visuals are the ideal way to communicate in today’s fast-paced environment. As a result, captivating imagery is more vital than ever before, and it’s the ideal complement to any article. In fact, posts featuring photos on social media are ten times more likely to receive attention.
Change up the length of your captions.
No two social media sites are alike, just as no two audiences are alike. Each social media platform has its own personality and rhythm, so it’s critical to analyse what your audience wants to see more of. Is it punny, quick-hit subtitles that are on trend? Or are there a few paragraphs that really pull the reader into the story, evoking emotion and allowing them to relate? Understanding the appropriate post length and how it relates to your post’s aims will help you expand your channel and keep your audience coming back for more.
Have you ever had a chat with someone who talks nonstop? If you have, you know how monotonous one-sided talks can be, how they can make you feel left out, and how they can even make you want to walk away and find something else to do. When you don’t consider your followers when posting, that’s exactly what they’ll do. You’re not only expanding your digital footprint by asking questions, reacting to comments, and engaging with other postings, but you’re also making your audience feel heard and valued.
Participate in pertinent discussions.
Social listening can provide a variety of advantages. You and your business can participate in subjects that are relevant to and/or affect your industry by using social media listening. This is a terrific opportunity for your executives and your company to be acknowledged as a thought leader in that field, in addition to growing your reach and bringing your brand to the forefront of hot topics.
Post on a regular basis, but don’t go overboard.
We could spend all day telling you how frequently you should and shouldn’t publish to your brand’s social media networks. “As frequently as you can regularly post quality material,” is the short response. The lengthy answer is that you should be posting high-quality, consistent material on a level that your audience can relate to — per channel. If you don’t post often enough, your audience will forget about you. If you post too much, your audience’s feed will get cluttered.
Make reasonable expectations.
Have you ever been advised to create attainable goals? If not, you heard it first right here. Setting attainable goals is also vital when it comes to managing your brand’s social media accounts. Why? For one thing, it’s nice to know you’re winning. You get to observe the progress, which is more crucial. Going from an average of 50 new followers per month to 100 per month is a little increase, but it’s progress, and you can track it with data that will help you understand your progress. Celebrating your achievements encourages you to grow and adapt (with all things in life if you think about it).
Write for your audience/readers.
Because each social media network is distinct, you must tailor your content for each one. Content that performs well on Twitter may not do well on Instagram. Consider who you want to reach out to when you create a content calendar.
Before you post, consider your options.
That fantastic post supporting a current topic close to your heart (count me in for the previous #AvengersEndGame frenzy) may be perfect for your personal Facebook page, but it may not be appropriate for your company’s page. If you’re writing for a specific audience, make sure your content reflects their attitudes and values. Separating your personal and corporate accounts can help you uncover content that fits your brand’s image while also allowing you to publish content that you find fascinating on your personal channels.
Remember when Snapchat was the newest and most popular app? After failing to purchase Snapchat, Facebook announced that “well, we’ll launch our own story feature.” As a result, the social sharing story style has taken over the world. According to statistics, Stories receive 15 times more interaction than Newsfeed postings. Have you ever created any Story material for your company? If you haven’t already done so, now is the moment. It’s simple to get started with Instagram, so get started now!
There are things you should do and pitfalls you should avoid when utilising social media. Here are some things not to do when publishing on social media, according to the social media do’s and don’ts:
So, someone encouraged you to use as many hashtags as possible so that they are seen by as many people as possible, right? WRONG. It’s not a good idea! This method may have worked a few years ago when social media platforms were just starting to gain traction, but it is no longer effective. Overuse of hashtags can make a post feel immature and unauthentic. You’ll only attract more bots and fewer people who are truly interested in what you’re saying.
As previously said, debating online has a negative impact on your brand. While many individuals appreciate and are entertained by these debates, they are following them for the wrong reasons. These social media activities will not entertain or impress a potential employer. Consider alternate ways to communicate yourself in a professional and well-thought-out manner before diving into an online debate.
Oversharing content is not a good idea.
While publishing on social media can be beneficial, there is a point at which an account’s material becomes too much. Oversharing on social media can push people away. Oversharing might not only drive users away, but it can also have harmful psychological consequences for social media users. Instead, choose the most appropriate posting frequency for each platform.
Don’t: Over-promote products and services.
“People will walk away if a firm is continuously selling on social media,” says Susu Wong, owner of Tomo360. Mixing things up with useful and intriguing information is a smart idea. Use the 80/20 rule: “Spend 80% of your time and effort on useful and entertaining content, and 20% on promotions.”
Don’t Forget About Your Audience
You don’t want to disregard your audience when utilising social media – after all, this is social media! Make sure to respond to any questions, comments, or messages that users send you on social media. You should respond to what was posted as soon as possible.
Don’t make the mistake of misusing emojis.
Emojis are frequently used in social media posts as a means to communicate emotion and interact with their followers. Before you share something with emojis, double-check that the emoji genuinely means what you believe it does. Many emojis, especially for younger audiences, can have many meanings. It’s a good idea to look out the meanings of emojis before using them.
Don’t: Stay away from it completely.
Having no internet presence can be far more damaging than making one of the blunders listed above. The majority of individuals use the Internet to locate information, resources, and people they require for a service, product, or career opportunity, among other things. They will simply move on to someone else if your information is not readily available.
Don’t make yourself seem desperate.
You should never implore your Twitter followers to ‘please retweet’ or beg your Facebook friends to ‘like’ your page on a regular basis. To complete such tasks, Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Guides recommend being innovative and share-worthy. This will assist you in gaining followers.
Spamming is never a good idea.
Never try to forcefully target those audiences (who aren’t interested in your type of business) only to increase the number of followers. All of the Social Media Do’s and Don’ts recommendations regard joining groups and posting the same promotional messages in all of them, then quitting those groups as Don’ts.
When sharing a post on social media, it’s critical to choose the correct frequency, as excessive posting might lead to unfollowing and unsubscribing.
It’s recommended that you send 6 to 7 tweets every day on Twitter and 1 to 2 posts per day on Facebook. If your company deals with regular updates, though, it’s a good idea to schedule content distribution accordingly.
Don’t make grammatical or spelling errors.
Making grammatical and typographical blunders detracts from your trustworthiness.
To prevent making such errors, write your social media posts in a document or spreadsheet and review them before posting them to social media sites.
DO NOT WRITE IN ALL CAPS IN YOUR POSTS.
According to Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Guides, posting in CAPS is strongly discouraged because it can appear offensive.
Using CAPS in a post not only looks jarring, but it also communicates that you are upset about something.
#Hashtags should not be used with every word in a phrase. Excessive usage of #Hashtags is another one of the most aggravating Social Media habits to avoid. Using proper hashtags connects your post to other similar posts on that topic, and it should only be used for that purpose, not to make your post look fancy.
Repeatedly delivering the same message is not a good idea.
Sharing the same message again and over is inefficient and in poor taste, and it has a detrimental influence on your social media presence.
Social Media Guides Do’s and Don’ts constantly advise being inventive when repurposing old content. Because the majority of Tweets are there, Twitter is an outlier that can withstand a few duplicates.
Don’t rely on Auto DMs excessively.
Excessive reliance on Auto DMs, or Direct Messages, is not a good idea.
You should never send an Automate DM to every new follower, but using it for a one-on-one interaction with a follower is the greatest alternative.
Don’t use the same content across all networks to save time.
While employing tools to automate marketing is beneficial, publishing the same material across all of your social media channels is not.
The tone of the message should be appropriate for the network, which is why Social Media Do’s and Don’ts recommend creating a unique message for each social media platform.
Don’t focus on the number of followers.
We all know that quality over quantity is preferable, and the same can be said for social media marketing. You should never get caught up in the numbers game, as having more followers might lead to the accumulation of spam accounts.
Posts that are depressing or unhappy will not help you appreciate any successful conversions. You should make a habit of sharing pieces that empower, inspire, inform, and entertain your audience.
Don’t Take Everything You Read At Face Value
When using social media, it is critical that you do not believe everything you read. You should always double-check the authenticity of the source of any material before putting your approval on it.
While it is fine to spend a few minutes on social media channels and be useful, browsing for an hour without accomplishing anything is a waste of time. You should also devote your attention to other vital chores that will aid in the development of fruitful relationships.
Don’t come across as a know-it-all.
Projecting yourself as a know-it-all can lead to arrogance, which can stifle your good image. Most Social Media Do’s and Don’ts Guides say that being a know-it-all in your comments, posts, and messages is a no-no.
Don’t be fooled by trolls.
It’s easy to get offended by harsh or patronising remarks, but it’s not worth risking your company’s reputation. This tip relates to the separation of personal and professional thoughts and ideas. Treat a social media user as if they were a dissatisfied client in your store; provide exceptional customer service and solutions to their problems. So, what’s the most efficient method to go about it? No matter what the situation, the best way to cope with this problem is to answer compassionately and calmly.
Hashtags are science in and of themselves. While hashtags are quite useful for increasing the visibility of a post or a page, it is easy to overuse them. Tweets containing more than three hashtags receive 17 percent less engagement, according to research. This hashtag issue is not unique to Twitter, but it is particularly prevalent on this network. Learn more about hashtags and how to utilise them on various platforms by reading this blog.
Don’t forget to double-check your spelling and grammar.
Nothing wreaks havoc on a brand’s image like carelessness, and bad grammar and spelling on social media is a dead giveaway. It’s as simple as rereading and amending your content before sending it out to avoid this. If you’re still undecided, there are a variety of online grammar and spelling checkers, such as Grammarly, that you may use to fine-tune your postings. We even have a blog dedicated to the most common grammar errors and how to avoid them!
Do not over-promote your company.
As previously said, a healthy balance in social media posting and scheduling is important. Followers don’t want to see too little or too much from the brands they follow on social media. This is especially true when it comes to social media promotions. When a brand promotes itself too much, users lose interest. In this situation, best practises dictating that one promotional post should be posted for every four non-promotional posts.
Remember to utilise platform-specific posting.
Every social media platform is different. Each site caters to a distinct population and is optimised for different types of content. If you want to share a high-quality image, for example, post it on Instagram or other platforms where people are seeking for good photos. Make sure the medium you’re using is appropriate for the platform! Keep track of your analytics and demographics on various social media networks to figure out what people are interested in and who is most active. This allows you to customise your publishing strategy for each platform.
DON’T: Be a needy person.
Don’t urge your Facebook friends to “like” your page every week, or implore your Twitter followers to “please retweet.” It’s fine to inform your personal account followers that you have business pages and what they may expect if they follow you. However, plan beforehand. You can still complete those duties, but it’s better to do so by creating useful, shareable content.
DON’T: Spam people.
It’s fine to retweet, like, comment, post, and share, but everything should be done in moderation. Nobody wants a single account to dominate their social media feeds. Don’t, for example, join 20 LinkedIn groups and publish the same self-promotional message in each one, then never communicate with the members again. Don’t mass-follow random Twitter individuals in the hopes of receiving a reciprocal follow. Posting promotional content in places where self-promotion is prohibited is not a good idea. You don’t want to give off that kind of vibe.
Don’t stray from the brand.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen Wendy’s clap back montage in your Twitter feed, or the humour Chubbies employs to engage its primarily male audience. While both companies have established a social feed that keeps their fans laughing and, eventually, engaged, the formula is not for everyone. Your brand’s voice should be consistent with its broader objectives, such as the image it portrays and the demands of its target audience. There’s nothing wrong with a little levity or humanising a brand, but the idea is to do so when it’s appropriate and to maintain a consistent brand voice.
Posting material with grammatical or spelling errors is not a good idea.
We understand… you’re a human being, and humans make mistakes. However, don’t do it! Reading an excellent content with grammatical or spelling issues is one of the few things that will make your followers’ eyes roll. Even though these errors appear to be trivial, they might jeopardise your confidence with your target audience. Check the copy before hitting submit when writing on behalf of your firm or representing a corporation. Then double-check it. If your eyes are fatigued and your brain is mush, hand it on to a friend before releasing it. You won’t regret taking the time to double-check that you’re using the correct their/there or they’re.
DON’T: Get too caught up in the figures.
It’s crucial to remember that building brand awareness and expanding your network takes time. We understand how easy it is to get caught up in the numbers game, but try to avoid it. While having a large number of followers can be beneficial, quality should always take precedence over quantity. Your tweets are being delivered to an audience that doesn’t exist if you have 1,000 Twitter followers and half of them are spam accounts. So, instead of worrying about your follower numbers, focus on creating compelling material for your audience.
The beauty of social media is that it allows for conversations that would otherwise be impossible to have offline owing to limits (geographical, among others). Most individuals use social media, such as Facebook, to keep up with what’s going on with their family and friends.
However, “trolls” who swarm the comments sections of many websites have suddenly made social media hazardous. They don’t add anything, if they don’t disrupt constructive debates altogether, instead of providing positive insights.
Do not be one of these individuals. Do not use your social media account to degrade individuals or groups only for the aim of degrading them. When you come across a post or a comment that contradicts your position, do not resort to personal attacks.
DO NOT DISCLOSE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ONLINE.
Although it may be tempting to share nearly anything on social media, be cautious about the oversharing personal information that could be used by identity thieves or online trolls.
Do not, for example, post any information that you may have used as a password in any of your online or offline accounts. These include details such as your mother’s maiden name and the name of your first pet that can be used to answer security questions.
It’s the same with other people’s information. If you have access to or knowledge of a friend’s personal information, ask for permission before posting it online. Remember that identity thieves don’t just look at social media profiles to find the owner; they also keep an eye out for other people who might be vulnerable.
Send personal information via private messages as much as possible.
Remember to credit your (legal) sources.
If you’re going to join a dispute in a comment section or on your personal Facebook page, make sure you provide credit to the legitimate source of the material you used. It will not only strengthen your argument, but it will also assist others in researching literature relating to your position or point of view.
When you publish photographs or videos, it’s the same. If you did not take the photo or video yourself, make sure to credit the website where you found it or the person who took it in your article. You won’t be accused of plagiarising in this manner.
Make careful, though, that your sources are reliable, otherwise you risk contributing to widespread misinformation.
On the internet, information travels quickly. When the information presented is credible and has been confirmed to be true, this is a positive thing. However, there are times when misleading material has become so extensively disseminated that no number of disclaimers will stop people from propagating it. This is why sharing unconfirmed information on your own social media sites is so crucial.
Unverified information includes bomb threats, deaths, and other things that could cause people to become concerned or panicked. Remember that sharing this type of information, particularly bomb threats, may put you in legal trouble.
If you come across questionable information, wait until local authorities or other reliable sources confirm it before spreading it to your network. It is preferable to be safe rather than sorry.
DO NOT put up with cyberbullying.
When comments on your personal blog have become extremely hostile, draw the line. Feel free to call out netizens who are no longer contributing to a healthy dialogue. Delete their remarks if that doesn’t work. Keep in mind that your own Facebook profile is your own virtual area. You have the right to make it a harassment-free zone.
If you receive death threats, whether or not they are directed at you, you should report the person to the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for further investigation.
Summary
To sum up, I hope you have gained a better understanding of the various do’s and don’ts of social media etiquette. Incorporating these principles into your social media marketing and management will undoubtedly assist you in maximising the effectiveness of your online presence. Enrolling in the Social Media Marketing Course will help you grasp the quirks of various social media platforms and how to best use them to your benefit. What more social media dos and don’ts would you like to add? – Leave your ideas in the comments section.
Are you looking for social media dos and don’ts for business owners? You’ve arrived at the right location. The continual growth of social media can make staying on top of etiquette and best practises for those platforms tough, especially if you’re a casual user. Each social networking platform has its own quirks that serve as unspoken usage guidelines. You run the danger of appearing unprofessional and creating an unfavourable impression on your audience if you disobey one of those principles. It takes practise to completely comprehend how these suggestions apply to your day-to-day behaviour when it comes to social media etiquette for company, behaviour, and what to do or not do. When it comes to company social media etiquette, here are 25 dos and don’ts:
We have the ability to broadcast our voices to a large audience through social media, which provides us more opportunity to achieve, but also more potential to fail. These risks of failure should not deter you from sharing your ideas and advertising your brand on the internet. You may avoid making blunders on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other commonly used social media platforms by following these social media dos and don’ts.
