As social media rapidly evolves, more and more possibilities are becoming a reality. Jobs have been created and have been in high demand, data is easier to find than ever, and connecting with a friend halfway across the world is just a simple click away. However, with the good comes the bad. And the bad can be pretty bad. One of the most important things you need to do to build your brand is to have good etiquette, which will give you a good reputation.
2020 was truly a year where pretty much everyone went through some kind of change. Society wasn't society at all because everyone was in their homes fearing the worst. You couldn't go out and do the fun things that we can do once again today. Social media, too, went through some really big changes. How did people connect with their jobs from home? Social media. How did teachers teach their students from home? Social media. How was Joe Burrow pronounced as the #1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft? Social media. Webinars, live streams, zoom, and Google meet were being used than more than ever.
With social media being used by everyone through these times it became more apparent to be more and more cautious of what to say and do and what not to say and do. Just an example, Professional NASCAR Cup Series driver, Kyle Larson, was suspended for the 2020 season after he used a racial slur on IRacing, which is an online racing game. I have no idea why he used it but I do know that what he did was 100% in the wrong and he deserved his punishment. Sadly, it's taken examples like this to be sure of what not to do even more. We know it's wrong already but when someone, especially someone that is well-known like Larson, does it- it shines a light on the negative impact after it.
Social media etiquette is just like the etiquette that comes with everyday face-face interactions. It is known or should be known, what to do, what to say, how to act, and how to talk. Simply, there are things, many things, that should never be said either face-face or on social media. One that has been proven to happen again and again is that there is truly nothing that can be done to stop or prevent this. It happens every day and is most likely happening right now as I type this. The best thing that can be done is to hope that there is some sort of reiteration of the basics behind proper social media etiquette often. Speaking of proper social media etiquette, I will now explain and list some important points behind social media etiquette.
The first thing you can do is simply watch what you say. If you regret saying something then it's most likely because you shouldn't have said it to begin with. As the book says, this is the most important part when it comes to your brand. Having good social media etiquette means you have a good reputation. When you have a good reputation you are doing your brand a favor. You wouldn't want to spoil that. Another thing you can do is have a few different social media accounts, one for business and others for your other social media experience that aren't as serious. On your business account, be professional. Don't say something you wouldn't want one of your people such as your coworkers or bosses to say. The last thing I would like to mention that you should avoid on all social media is over posting and oversharing. Every time something happens in life, it doesn't need to be shared. Many things should be kept private. I think we all know someone that just posts all day every day and I'm not sure of many people that enjoy seeing that on their feeds.
As I conclude, I hope you find my tips helpful when building your brand. Just remember that the number one thing includes what you say and that is 100% in your control. A strong brand includes a strong reputation and a good reputation includes good etiquette!
Chase Coburn: You did a great job talking about etiquette. You mentioned that if you regret saying it, you shouldn't have mentioned it. Numerous people nowadays say stuff they don't mean but can never take it back. We need to start going back to when people had to think before they say, that'll never happen, but in theory, lol.
ReplyDelete