Social media the one place where if you make a mistake – it may live on longer than you. Stars and politicians are most often noted for creating social media blunders and because of their following – they are publicly crucified, sometimes rightly so.
So how do you stop from making a social media gaffe?
- THINK before you push the message out.
That may sound simple but think about it before you send it. - Ask yourself some questions:
- Who will this benefit?
- Is this something I would want my boss to read?
- Am I benefiting my brand with this post?
- If unsure – don’t post until someone approves it.
- Just because something might be controversial doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be posted – but maybe your boss should bless it before it goes out.
- Be polite!
- Very few people can get away with being rude. Of course sometimes hard hitting facts get in the way of being nice – then at least be factual.
- Use shortened URLs!
- I use HootSuite and love that they have a URL shortener right in the product that also provides analytics for me.
- Have a social media plan!
- Very much like a business or marketing plan – a social media plan is a smart way to process what can and cannot be posted, who can post, who can approve and at what point you escalate the post before pushing it out on the internet.
- Have an emergency plan built into this that indicates who/what when there is an emergency – who posts what. Don’t wait until the emergency happens – have something your attorney has already blessed.
Of all the items mentioned above the one that should be stressed is the THINK! So many posts that get people in trouble are when they are not thinking well.