Social Media Dos and Don’ts
There’s a big difference between communicating online as a business versus as an individual. To help, here are six dos and six don’ts as presented by Indeed.com.
Tip: Find a template that works for you and stick with it. The same goes for a color palette and fonts.
DO:
1. Speak as a business. Though you want your message to appear personal, don’t refer to “I” or “me” in posts. Instead, either use “we” or the name of your practice. Also, make sure this is consistent throughout all marketing and on all platforms.
2. Update regularly. Be consistent in how often you post. Don’t, however, be consistent in the type of content. Mix it up. For example, you might feature new product information one week, fashion trends the next, and then interviews with staff members or local influencers after that.
3. Provide links. Links can really help readers. Though you don’t want to overuse them, they’re great if you link to information, for example, a new product that’s featured on your website. This can be a win-win, as it can help increase website traffic as well as educate patients.
4. Share announcements. Whether it’s about an award, a new product, or an event, share it all on social media. Video can be a great format for this.
5. Create your own visual style. Find a template that works for you and stick with it. The same goes for a color palette and fonts.
6. Check and credit. Don’t repost something that sounds interesting or important without double checking its accuracy. Also, whether it’s an image, a stat, or just information, be sure to include and credit sources.
DON’T:
1. Comment on everything. Make sure it’s relevant to your business. Otherwise, save your opinions for personal social media accounts.
2. Just post text. Add photos and other images as well as videos and interesting or supporting graphics.
3. Disregard negative comments. Instead, contact the individual to learn more about their issue and follow up by asking them to contact you directly to help resolve the problem.
4. Be too promotional. It’s fine if you’re promoting a new product or event. Otherwise, make sure your posts provide something of value.
5. Participate in too many platforms. It’s better to limit your involvement to no more than three social media platforms. Participating in too many will make it difficult to keep track of and reply to comments in a timely fashion.
6. Rehash content.Keep it fresh and varied. Even if you think something is important, don’t repeat images or content. If you must revisit a subject, use new images and take a different approach to the topic.
Most importantly, remember that it takes time to grow your social media community. Be patient, and keep trying new approaches and posting different kinds of content. Over time, you’ll learn what works best for your audience.
What is your favorite platform for posting about your business? Tell us about it and share in the conversation on Facebook here.
