When I first started using social media several years ago, I was certain that I knew the acceptable way that someone should post online: what to post, how to post and so on. And of course, I tried to tell people that!
Over the course of time, I figured out that there is only one acceptable way to post—and it’s entirely up to each individual! What’s important, though, is for each person to determine what their online persona will be—and how others will perceive them.
Ultimately, how you post online is part of your own personal brand. As branding expert Lida Citroën says: “Everyone has a brand—by design or by default. Your personal brand is the perception others have about you and the value they assign you. Your brand sets the expectation for the experience others will have with you.”
Do you post in a way that is similar to how you are in “real life?” That is, if you’re fun-loving, do your posts reflect that? If you’re devoted to your family, do you post about them? Are you a TMI poster? What’s most important is for someone to be authentic to themselves…but within reason.
If you swear like a sailor, do you use profanity in your posts? If so, you need to realize that some (many?) people will be turned off by that. Personally, I feel that it’s unprofessional and I don’t like to read posts with profanity. I had someone follow me on Twitter and I was surprised that they actually used the “f word” in their personal description! I didn’t follow them. As my friend Gina Schreck recently said about someone who uses bad language in their Tweets, they should wash their beak out with soap!
If you’re using social media to promote your business (or yourself), then grammar, punctuation and spelling do count! You want people to know that you are intelligent, articulate and someone they would want to work with. Of course, no one is going to be perfect, but everyone should strive to try to have posts that are more often correct than not!
I follow a business associate (a financial planner) on Facebook and was astonished one time that in a post, he used the word “are” when he meant “our” —THREE times! What was even more amazing was that he was posting about business. Maybe I’m being a snob, but I’d definitely think twice before I’d want to entrust my money with him.
If you were to ask your online friends and connections what they think of you, what would they say? More importantly, if it’s someone you don’t know in “real life,” what do they think of you? And, does it match why you are online?
Deb- Great post! I always encourage folks to take a look at one page of their Twitter Profile as well as their Facebook Profile–would YOU follow YOU? Are you sharing interesting information? Is it helpful? Remember, be interesting, be helpful ….or be QUIET! I guess I should be quiet now! 🙂 Thanks for the shout out~
Gina – you should never be quiet! You’re the best!
Good info for us to share with teens, as well!
Too many people – especially teens – think that they can let it all hang out! Always a good idea to be thinking of how others may be perceiving you.
Have you thought about adding some differing opinions to the article? I think it might enhance everyone’s understanding.
I’m always open to adding other views, but I also hope that readers will add differing opinions in their comments.
Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up! Cheers.
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
I completely agree with you about not using profanity online and that grammar counts. Not that I am perfect mind you but it does make an impression that might not serve you as well as if you’d taken a few more moments. I also prefer to never even enter into discussions about politics or religion online. I know I’ve unfollowed/unfriended people based on a post that was offensive to me when honestly it has nothing to do with our business relationship. I don’t want the same to happen to me. Great post Deb.
@Gina I love this quote “Be interesting, be helpful ….or be QUIET!” it goes along with another of my favorites… “Be Good! and if you can’t be good.. be brief!” 🙂
There are definitely some people I hide during election time! I don’t mind a post or two in support of a candidate, but some just go overboard. And I firmly believe that unless your business pertains to religion or politics, one definitely risks alienating – or losing – followers by getting carried away. Thanks for commenting!