Every social media channel has its own personality. Facebook may require more casual blog posts while LinkedIn a more formal approach. You can update your Twitter account several times a day while you only post one or two pins to Pinterest. So, what’s the appropriate social media etiquette on these networks anyway?
We all know about the importance of having and maintaining (keyword: maintaining!) a social media profile. According to a 2013 report by Social Media Examiner, the number one reason to be on social media was increased exposure. The second main reason for having a presence on social networks was increased traffic.
A significant 89% of all marketers indicated that their social media efforts have generated more exposure for their businesses. Increasing traffic was the second major benefit, with 75% reporting positive results. [2013 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, Page 17 – Social Media Examiner]
If exposure — positive exposure — is so important for you and your brand, why aren’t you promoting yourself in the best way possible? Why don’t you think twice before you hit the publish button — especially if you’re promoting your business?
Even if you’re new to social media marketing and everything feels quite overwhelming, I’m sure you have noticed some poor behavior and a lack of etiquette across the platforms.
If you want to cultivate valuable online relationships, increase brand awareness and ultimately, help your business to thrive, you will have to maintain a proper social media etiquette on each platform.
10 Social Media Etiquette Tips
Below are 10 social media etiquette tips to consider when posting on Facebook, Twitter & Co.
1. Facebook: Respond to all comments – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
2. Facebook: Always keep the 80/20 rule! Entertain and inform your audience first, sell to them second.
3. Twitter: Don’t use all 140 characters! Give people room to retweet you.
4. Google+: Use “hat tips” (H/T) when sharing other user’s work. Everyone wants to be thanked for their work.
5. Instagram: Don’t Overgram. No one likes their feed filled up with one user.
6. Instagram: Use hashtags for your brand appropriately. The golden number of hashtags is 11.
7. LinkedIn: Personalize your connection requests. Tell them WHY you’re connecting.
8. LinkedIn: Use groups as a place to contribute information, not as a place to promote your company.
9. Pinterest: Always link back to the original source and give credit!
10. Pinterest: Don’t use images that have nothing to do with your clickthrough content to get more pins and clicks. That’s spammer behavior!
Conclusion
Share great content. Forward content that is appealing to your target audience and build valuable relationships. Stay away from people with bad manners and poor behavior; and don’t forget the etiquette tips you’ve learned above.
How cautious are you when you share content on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+? What were your experiences with social media etiquette so far?
