Mistakes are made in the world of social media marketing and some are worse than others. When dabbling in the world of social media, there are some definite do’s and don’ts you’ll wish to remember before hitting that submit button. If you’re not paying close attention, social media bliss may easily turn into a social media fiasco. Here are some examples of the good, the bad and the just plain dumb.
The mechanics of cyberspace may be one hundred percent objective, but the content sure isn’t. In other words, assume any number of ethnicities, sensitivities and pet peeves are going to come across your content. Slurs, personal insults, or inappropriate behavior can have a profound impact on not only you, but the company you represent. If it’s something you wouldn’t say to the HR director, chances are you shouldn’t be posting it on behalf of the company.
And that leads to the identity crisis online. Who you are, your title, or role in the company including your name, should be made very clear. When tweeting, posting or blogging, you are the face of the company and shouldn’t be hiding your identity.
If you are going to name drop (clients, partners, suppliers, etc.) be sure to get their permission first and make sure the person giving the permission has the authority to do so. This usually falls onto the lap of their legal department, so get it in writing to avoid any embarrassment, or worse, legal proceedings.
Remember probably the most important aspect of cyberspace too: it has no expiration date. Once it’s on the web, it’s there for a very long time, perhaps forever. This can lead to an uncomfortable situation when you change jobs and finding yourself presenting the opposite side of the fence. Contradiction may lead to a loss of respectability.
Source: www.inc.com