Mind your manners
I already tweeted this article a few weeks ago, but it resonates so much with me, and I think it’s a great way to explain the principles behind best social media practices to clients, that I decided to share it again here.
I have pinched this straight from Eric Fulwiler‘s post on Social Media Today, but I’m sure it’s elsewhere too.
Ten things your grandmother can teach you about social media:
- Mind your manners. Social media is still social. Even though we are interacting in a virtual space, the same traditional social rules, laws, and faux pas still apply. If you act like a jerk, don’t expect many friends.
- Tuck in your shirt. How you present yourself is just as important in the virtual world as it is in the real world. Make sure you are always aware of how you appear to others.
- Send a thank you card. People still appreciate being appreciated. It really doesn’t take much to convert an acquaintance to a friend, which will offer exponentially more value. A simple thank you, or any genuinely human interaction of gratitude goes a long way towards this goal.
- Keep your elbows off the table. Acting respectfully in front of others proves that you value them, which will usually make them value you more. And in social media, it’s all about value.
- Turn your music down. Don’t contribute to the noise. Listen to whatever you want in your own personal space, but when your personal preferences start to become a distraction to others, people will tune you out.
- Finish what you started. Any way you look at it, engagement is a commitment. When you make an effort to become part of a community, it’s not only up to you when or how often you interact with other members. If you put yourself out there as a friend, be prepared to be there when people reach out to you.
- Finish your vegetables. There are some aspects of social media that aren’t sexy. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t important to your growth and health. Make sure you are keeping up with the essentials, and not just chasing that buzz you get from a social sugar high.
- Whatever happened to a good old fashioned…? Sometimes all these new gadgets and thingamabobs aren’t as important or effective as we make them out to be. Sometimes a good old fashioned email, phone call, or even in person “get-together” can accomplish things that social media can’t.
- A man is only as good as his word. The currency of social media is trust (or social capital). And if people can’t trust you, you have no value to them.
- Think twice before you speak. You can always say something, but you can never take it back. Especially in social media where everything you say can be heard by anyone, forever, there are just too many “finites” to not reconsider everything you say before you say it.
What do you think?
Advertisement
Great post. Much learnt. Look forward to learning more!
Regards,
The Foodologist
Thanks George! Appreciate the feedback…hope to be updating a little more regularly now, so watch this space!
Jessie, this is a good post. As a relatively new entrant into social media, how do I distinguish between the sexy and mundane aspects?
Hello Aaron – thanks for visiting!
I’m not sure that trying to divide your social media efforts into ‘sexy’ and ‘mundane’ is the best approach – like anything in life, a social media campaign contains elements of fun as well as hard work, and a strategic approach recognizes that you have to do ‘the hard yards’ before you see great results. If you are literally starting from scratch, you should be beginning with listening – who is saying what about your brand and topics pertaining to your industry. This will help you establish where might be best to concentrate your efforts when engaging potential clients. There are some fantastic free ways to establish online monitoring for your brand (perhaps the subject of an upcoming post!) – but you could start with Google Alerts and Twitter Search to give you some basic feedback.
I hope that helps