It’s perfectly normal to have personal social media accounts, but with great power comes great responsibility. The beautiful thing about social media is that it gives you the power to post anything you want for a public audience, but there are a few things to remember when posting freely on social media.
Can you be connected to your place of work?
Odds are that you proudly display your place of work on Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Twitter. Just remember that as you’re posting, it’s easy for anyone on the internet to tie you to the company that employs you. That’s typically not a big deal and all part of networking in 2019. However, if you do post something inflammatory or controversial, it can be shared to your employer and may violate an employment contract or other company policies. Plus, you don’t want your online behavior to shed any negative light on your company. A good rule of thumb is this: before you post, ask yourself, “Is this really worth posting? Will people understand this comment out of context or without background information?” If the answer to either of those things is no, do not post.
What you post online is forever.
Nothing goes away on the internet. There are more than a few apps that are used to dig up old posts, deleted posts, and hidden posts. Not to mention, screenshots are entirely out of your control. As you are posting to social media, think about a screenshot of that message being passed around your office or posted on the internet concerning your business – is it something you’re comfortable with? If not, do not post!
Play nice and take the high ground.
Another trend we’ve seen is competing businesses posting ill of each other online. While you may think slinging mud will do nothing but harm your competitor, it can actually reflect quite poorly on you and your business. Whether it’s a “he said, she said” with a client, or a war of words with the competitor down the street, let your superior product and services do the talking. If you do a good job, the internet will be filled with lovely things about you and your company, and a few mud stains from a competitor will look like a drop in the ocean.
45% of consumers are more likely to research a product or service when a brand’s employees post about that product or service.
You can actually add value to your business by sharing information about excellent products, services, and other awesome things you’re doing at work. Become an advocate for your hospital and let your enthusiasm shine through to your social media posts – people will be receptive and excited about it. Employee advocacy is better than a simple marketing campaign because it shows potential customers that the people behind the product are passionate about it.
Final thoughts:
Even with a private account and no mention of your place of work online, there are enough resources online to connect the dots. If you are going to have an active social media account, be sure to think of the professional benefits or consequences that can be connected to it.
How would you describe your current social media use? Leave a comment on this blog and tell us all about it!
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