Honing Your Social Media Etiquette in Personal and Professional Settings
There is no hiding from social media in current times, with nine out of 10 Internet users now relying on social media platforms to connect for work and personal purposes. Zoom, for instance, has 300 million daily meeting participants — an increase of 2,900% since 2019. Video conferencing via Facebook and Google Meets has also risen exponentially for social events such as weddings, enabling people across the globe to feel more connected on memorable days. If you are planning an event or important conference, ensure you get your social media etiquette down pat to avoid letting others (or yourself) down during moments of connection.
Personal Events: Setting and Following Rules
Social media etiquette for weddings is generally ruled over by each particular couple. For this reason, brides and grooms should communicate their expectations to guests weeks before the event, so everyone knows exactly where they stand. Just a few rules couples may opt for include asking guests to put their phones on Airplane mode during the ceremony, giving photographers easy access during the ceremony and reception, and posting only flattering, positive images. Couples may also ask guests to use a specific hashtag so they can easily view all images pertaining to their event.
Rules on Sharing
When sharing personal content on apps like Facebook and Instagram, there are a few bugbears to avoid if you wish to avoid being unfollowed or placed on mute. Common no-no’s can include bragging, arguing about topics involving politics and religion, and getting into long debates on other people’s walls. Remember that if you have over 100 friends on a platform like Facebook, chances are that their values, thoughts, and behaviors can vary greatly so it pays to be respectful to these differences.
Online Business Meetings
The current rise of remote work means that video conferencing continues to be a popular, effective means of communication. Just a few expected behaviors when taking part in a professional call of this nature include being on time, testing your tech out before the meeting (not when it is about to start), having the right light and a silent background, and muting yourself when you are not talking. You should also let participants know who will be attending and inform them of the topics to be covered beforehand. Finally, setting a tentative end time will let attendees know how much time they need to set aside for the meeting.
Online Interaction with Followers
Just a few platforms that continue to hold sway in the average business include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Whether engaging in B2B or B2C dealings, companies should maintain a professional and (if appropriate) friendly tone that is industry-centered yet not exclusively sales-oriented. Businesses with high activity rates tend to engage with their followers, provide feedback, and answer queries quickly and efficiently. When sharing information, they seek to offer authentic value, keeping them posted on updates and industry-specific news. Social media platforms should never be used to criticize the competition. Nor should they be used in a self-interested fashion. Instead, they should be used to create authentic connections with followers and to listen to their demands, complaints, and concerns.
Social media is now an important component of our day-to-day lives. It is important to follow the rules of etiquette in both personal and professional settings so as to demonstrate respect and care for others. Just a few rules to follow include being empathetic to others, making regulations clear for important social events, conducting business respectfully with others, and using one’s business sites to create authentic connections — not just to sell one’s products.
