Social media is good for business. It’s a chance to nurture, connect, and develop relationships, cultivate “expert status,” and grow a successful enterprise.

There’s just one [HUGE] problem. Propriety has been thrown out the window. In a sense, a computer is like a security blanket. People say things online that they would never say in real life. You would never share intimate details with a business acquaintance. You wouldn’t call up a client and tell them you’re bored. Just because you feel like you can share anything on the internet doesn’t mean you should.
Avoid these common social media pitfalls, if you want to make a good impression online:

Getting too personal. *
Sometimes, I think people forget that sites like Facebook and Twitter are public. Especially if you are on for your business, everything you post could and will be used against you. In facebook because you have a personal account to get your business account, it does get tough to determine how personal you should be when you have friends, family and clients looking at your posts. A general rule? If you wouldn’t stand up in the middle of a networking meeting and announce what you plan to say in your status update, don’t do it. In real life you filter yourself, and you should do the same online. If you don’t, you’ll lose credibility and clients.

*A problem at the other end of the spectrum: being a ghost or social media “lurker.” Get involved or you’ll never get results!

Posting boring updates.
I must confess, I’m guilty of writing a boring status update or two. The problem? These updates insidiously attack your reputation because they don’t help your clients or enhance your brand. My calendar is packed, so is yours, what was interesting in all that chaos? Certainly something! I also look at who I meet during the day and see who might be deserving of a little positive pr. Instead of wasting 15 minutes every day coming up with “I’m bored,” create an idea folder. Spend two hours a month visiting other blogs, collecting quotes, and writing 30 status updates that help your clients (that’s at least one good update each day). Every time you come across a great idea, throw it in your folder. When you have a fresh source of inspiration, you’ll never write a boring status update again. You know what YOU think when you see posts like “I’m bored,” “Going to lunch,” or “Watching T.V.” These sorts of updates were what made business-owners slow adopters of social media in the first place. Remember the days when we would cry: “Who really cares if I’m drinking coffee or eating tofu. My clients don’t need to know that!” Well, we were right: no one cares about this stuff. If you’re now using social media to tell people you’re drinking coffee or eating tofu you might want to re-think your online marketing strategy.

Only Positive Stuff!
While people who use status updates to vent are often amusing, if you’re an offender in this department you’re probably causing your business irreparable harm. People will figure out who you’re talking about and the situation that led to your update. And, if they don’t figure it out, they’ll worry you’re talking about them. The Facebook news feed is not the best place to vent your frustrations with clients and colleagues. Postive feeds positive just as in personal meetings, if you mention how you handled a negative situation, it certainly says more than how you reacted to it.

Ultimately, the goal of social media is to grow your business, position yourself as an expert and help your clients. You do all three by providing great information and avoiding the temptation to post just anything.

My Best,
Kathy Kane
Market Insights, LLC