When it comes to social media, there are a lot of things business owners need to keep in mind. From representing your brand online to engaging with your audience, there’s a lot to think about!
To help you navigate the social media waters, we’ve put together a list of 25 social media do’s and don’ts for small business owners.
1.Do: Keep Your Personal and Professional Lives Separate
When you’re a business owner, it can be tempting to mix your personal and professional lives together on social media. After all, you are the face of your brand! However, it’s important to remember that not everyone wants to see what’s going on in your personal life. Keep the two separate, and only share information that is appropriate for your professional audience.
2.Don’t: Post Controversial Opinions
As a business owner, it’s important to avoid posting anything controversial online. Remember, you are representing your brand! If you post something that could be seen as offensive or inflammatory, it could reflect badly on your business. Stick to safe topics, and save your opinions for private conversations.
3.Do: Be Professional
Just because social media is a casual platform doesn’t mean you can let your professionalism slip. Always represent yourself and your brand in a positive light, and make sure your posts are free of grammar and spelling errors. First impressions matter, so you want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward!
4.Don’t: Post Too Much Self-Promotion
Yes, social media is a great platform for promoting your business. However, you don’t want to go overboard with the self-promotion. If all you ever post about is your latest product or sale, people will start to tune you out. Instead, focus on providing value and engaging with your audience. The promotion will take care of itself!
5.Do: Be Consistent
When it comes to social media, consistency is key. Make sure you’re posting regularly, and try to stick to a schedule. This will help you stay top of mind with your audience, and make sure they always know what’s going on with your business. put together a list of 25 social media etiquette tips for business owners. By following these dos and
6.Don’t: Spam Your Followers
Nobody likes to be spammed, so don’t do it to your followers! If you start posting too much, or promoting irrelevant products, people will tune you out. Be strategic with your posts, and only share information that will be valuable or interesting to your audience.
7.Do: Engage With Your Audience
Social media is all about engagement! When you post something, take the time to respond to comments and answer any questions. This will help create a more personal connection with your audience, and make them feel valued.
8.Don’t: Ignore Negative Feedback
No matter how great your business is, you’re bound to get some negative feedback at some point. When this happens, resist the urge to delete the comment or brush it off. Instead, take the time to address the issue head-on. This will show your audience that you’re willing to listen to criticism and make changes when necessary.
9.Do: Be Authentic
In a world of fake news and filtered photos, people are craving authenticity. When you’re posting on social media, make sure you’re being true to yourself and your brand. Show your audience who you really are, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through!
10.Don’t: Post About Politics
Politics is a touchy subject, and it’s best to avoid it on social media. Remember that not everyone shares your views, and you could end up alienating some of your followers. If you feel strongly about a political issue, share your thoughts in a private forum or blog post instead.
11.Do: Use Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to reach a wider audience on social media. When you use relevant hashtags, your posts will show up in search results and be seen by people who wouldn’t normally see them. However, don’t go overboard with the hashtags. A few well-chosen ones will do the trick!
12.Don’t: Post Negative Comments
If you receive a negative comment, it can be tempting to post a response defending yourself. But this is usually a bad idea, as it can escalate the situation and make you look defensive. It’s best to just delete the comment and move on.
13.Do: Share Relevant Content
When you’re sharing content on social media, make sure it’s relevant to your audience. No one wants to see random posts that have nothing to do with their interests! If you’re not sure what to share, take a look at your target market and see what they’re talking about.
14.Don’t: Use Inappropriate Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people. But if you use inappropriate or offensive hashtags, you could end up getting banned from social media platforms or losing followers. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and avoid any potentially controversial topics.
15.Do: Monitor Your Accounts
If you want to be successful on social media, you need to monitor your accounts regularly. This means responding to comments and messages in a timely manner, and keeping an eye on what people are saying about your business. By being proactive, you can turn negative situations into positive ones!
16.Don’t: Share Without Researching First
With social media, it’s important to think before you share. If you see something interesting and want to share it with your followers, make sure you take the time to research it first. Otherwise, you could end up sharing inaccurate information or causing offense.
17.Do: Use Visual Content
People are more likely to engage with visual content than text-based posts. So whenever possible, share photos, videos, and infographics in your posts. This will help you stand out from the crowd and capture people’s attention!
18:Don’t: Automate Without Thought
There are some great tools out there that can help you automate your social media posts. However, it’s important to use these tools wisely. If you automate your posts without putting any thought into them, you could end up alienating your audience. Make sure your automated content is high-quality and relevant to your brand!
19.Do: Use Good Grammar
It might seem like a small thing, but using good grammar shows that you’re professional and credible. When you make mistakes in your posts, it reflects poorly on you and your business. So take the time to proofread your posts before you hit publish.
20.Don’t: Think About the Numbers
It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game. But resist the temptation to focus on how many followers you have, and instead focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to have a smaller group of engaged followers than a large group of people who don’t care about your brand!
21.Do: Use Calls to Action
A call to action (CTA) is a great way to get your audience to take action. Whether you’re asking them to buy a product, sign up for a newsletter, or attend an event, a CTA will help you achieve your goals. Just be sure to keep your CTAs relevant and unobtrusive.
22.Don’t: Share Repetitive Content
If you’re sharing the same content over and over again, your audience is going to get bored. So mix things up and share a variety of content types on your social media channels. This will keep people engaged and coming back for more!
23.Do: Thank Your Customers
When someone takes the time to say something nice about your business, be sure to thank them! A simple “thanks for your support!” goes a long way in making customers feel appreciated. This will help build loyalty and keep people coming back for more.
24.Don’t: Use AI as Human Replacement
AI can be a great tool for small businesses. But it’s important to remember that AI is not a replacement for human interaction. Your customers still want to deal with real people, so don’t rely too heavily on AI in your customer service.
25.Do: Ensure Your Profile is Complete
When someone visits your social media profile, they should be able to quickly learn about your business and what you do. So take the time to fill out your profile completely, and include links to your website and other online channels.
Final Takeaway
Social media can be a great way to connect with customers and promote your business. But it’s important to possess the knowledge, be well informed and follow some basic rules of etiquette. By following the tips above, you’ll be on your way to social media success!
