Social Media Etiquette For Business Owners: 5 Don’ts

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  1. Don’t spam, ever

Even though you may want to be active on social media, it doesn't automatically mean that you can be spammy with the way you conduct your posting. In fact, doing so may just lose you some followers. You need to first be aware of the fact that your followers aren't just following you; they also are following other content creators or brands they care about. So, you need to respect the fact that your followers also want to receive news from other sources.

If you are being spammy with your posting and your followers feel that you are being too much, they may simply get tired of seeing only your posts and may decide to unfollow you instead. So, it is necessary to use some discernment and post up to twice a day only. Once a day is generally a good rule, but if you have a lot to share then twice a day should be the maximum.

  1. Don’t show how much you need their attention

As a content creator or a brand, you need to show that you are the boss in your field. What this means is not that you should act arrogant and use a language that makes it seem you are underestimating other creators—or other people for that matter. What this means, generally, is that you need to show that you have charisma and that your presence is needed by your followers, instead of you needing them to like you desperately.

As emphasized by Sprout Social, consistently attempting to attract attention through tactics such as frequent posting or attention-seeking strategies may not be well-received by your audience. Such behavior can be seen as overly aggressive or insincere, potentially leading to a negative perception of your brand. Therefore, it's advisable to refrain from using language that conveys a sense of desperation, as if you are imploring your followers to like or share your posts.

So, please don’t use words that would give the impression that you are begging for your followers to like your posts or share them. Inviting them to do so is encouraged, when proper. But it is generally not a good idea to keep ‘reminding’ your followers to like your posts or share your stories every single day. People may disrespect you as a brand if you keep doing that on a daily basis.

  1. Don’t delete negative comments

Whatever you do in life, you can’t escape from naysayers or downright haters. If you receive a negative comment on your post, don’t take it to heart. Just think of it as part of existing on a social media platform. If you are a brand that sells stuff—be it a product or a service—you may even receive a bad rep on the comments section from consumers who are dissatisfied with your offering. This is normal and when you receive one such comment, it would be a better idea to acknowledge that comment and thank the poster for the ‘constructive criticism’.

According to research published in Red Rocket Web Specialist, refraining from removing negative comments showcases transparency and authenticity. It signals that your brand is ready to participate in candid and forthright discussions, even when confronted with criticism. This approach has the potential to bolster your reputation and foster trust within your audience.

Don’t delete negative comments, especially those that have become a thread, because this will give the impression that you as a brand are trying to hide something. That may make you look less professional instead. So, grow a big heart and learn from negative comments, too.

  1. Don’t tell your followers what to do

We are pretty sure you are familiar with the term call-to-action. That digital marketing strategy works wonders on email newsletters, but perhaps, not so much on social media. You know that call-to-actions are designed to make your audience or subscribers do an action right away, whether it is to buy a product or to sign up for special offers. But here on social media platforms, things are a little different.

Basically, people are not on social media to get sold stuff; rather, they are there to engage, communicate and receive information or news. With that said, telling your audience what to do at the end of your post is not a good idea because people won’t like that tone. Social media is a free place, mate. What you need to do instead is give some encouragement—something that can subtly ‘let your audience know’ that when they do something related to your brand, they can get something better in return.

  1. Don’t try to sell your products/services on top of a trending tragedy

When there is a tragedy that becomes a huge topic, it is natural that everybody wants to post on social media—usually it is either to show some kind of heartfelt condolences or some activist-like opinions about the matter at hand. Of course, if you are in support of whatever humanitarian cause that’s being discussed at the moment, you may want to make an official post about it. But you would be wise not to bring any products or services that you have to offer at such a time. During this time, your posts should never focus on you, but on the cause itself.

According to research published by Springer, this advice highlights the significance of demonstrating sensitivity to the circumstances and emotions associated with a trending tragedy or crisis, particularly within the realm of social media. In instances of major and delicate events, such as natural disasters, public crises, or tragedies, public attention and emotions frequently center around these occurrences.

If you do the former, people will simply hate you because they think you’re trying to sell them stuff by using the camouflage of a trending issue. That’s never a cool thing. You know what happened to Crocs when they made such a post with a picture of their sandals? Yeah, that wasn’t cool at all and many people were upset with the brand.

Hope you enjoy reading "Social Media Etiquette For Business Owners: 5 Don’ts" :)