Strategizing your professional social media presence can sometimes feel like a great summer road trip. While there is fun in the sun, there are also a fair number of challenges. Distractions are around every turn, yet both excitement and danger abound!
You cannot start driving without knowing traffic laws; the same applies when preparing to embark on your social media adventure. Keep your seat belt on and follow these social media “rules of the road” for professional accounts:
Stay in Your Lane
Creating a presence on social media is not an easy-breezy, bucolic drive—it’s a cross-country trip. Hopscotching to various social media channels leads to burnout and makes it hard to stay on message. Focus on niche-rich content with one or two platforms where your target audiences hang out to see measurable results. When you know what you want to say and who you want to say it to, it’s best to stay in your lane.
Remember Your Manners
Believe it or not, basic etiquette rules absolutely apply on social media. Say “please” and “thank you”; credit others for their work; make someone’s day with compliments or polite reactions in the comments; apologize sincerely; hold personal conversations in private via direct messages; don’t bully or denigrate others and their ideas. And always tag or mention people relevant to your ideas or messages. “Sharing the digital love” yields big dividends. And it’s a polite thing to do.
Be True to Yourself
Show—don’t tell—people who you are on social media. Be authentic with your messages and demonstrate your personality. Are you a big fan of pitbull rescues and adoptions? Talk about your experiences. Perhaps you are an HGTV DIY star wannabe. Share those projects on your social platforms. Include the projects that worked and especially tell your audience about the ones that didn’t work. What lessons did you learn that you can share with others?
Be Human
Social media is not a digital billboard. It’s called “social” media for a reason. These channels were designed to engage with others, not simply be a broadcast tool. Interacting with audiences unlocks the elusive social media algorithm, builds relationships with your target audiences, and leads to success. Not sure what to say? Just be yourself.
Don’t Feed the Trolls
This sign should be posted every time you open any social media account. It’s easy to give in to internet trolls— the ones that wield their keyboards like conversational bulletproof vests. Engaging with them wastes time and may lead to poor publicity on a very public platform. Just don’t. They aren’t worth one single ounce of your energy or time.
Regular Maintenance
Social media algorithms reward consistency like your car’s engine responds to a regular oil change. Set aside a couple of times each week to check in. Audiences respond to current and responsive interactions. Make sure your bio is updated regularly, too. This is all part of the maintenance your digital assets need.
So now what? Load up the car and take her for a spin to test out the social media rules of the road. Safe travels!
