In today’s marketing strategies, social media is all the craze. There are many different platforms: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. where a company’s business professionals and individuals can post information. It often doesn’t stop there however, many people post their feelings, emotions and thoughts on particular subjects from government to stances on a given subject.
While every person has the right to air their own thoughts and comments I find myself urging many individuals, business professionals, and companies, to heavily filter what personal feelings and comments they post on these sites. With public image being a large part of success for most individuals and companies, sending the wrong message to your followers could not only hurt your business, it could hurt your personal reputation as a business professional.
As you read through your Facebook or Twitter feed do you ever find yourself looking at a post that makes you shake your head in disgust? With the presidential election quickly approaching the amount of these types of posts surfacing on social media will certainly increase.
When candidates are running for presidency, hot topic items tend to surface, giving people the opportunity to voice their opinions. With a few quick strokes of the keys and a slap to the enter button and poof, it’s up – an opinion or belief, or maybe a witty comment to a post that someone else left. No harm no foul…Right? The answer to this is more complicated than a yes or no. Many people use social media to keep up with friends and family along with help in keeping their business contacts up to date. When they see something that is posted with a certain stance on hot topic items, they may change their prospective not just of you, but also your company.
KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL. This is the best tactic that can be used when posting as a business professional, entrepreneur, or company. By posting factual posts or posts that can benefit others you remove yourself from the possibility of creating a bad image in someone else’s mind. Remember social media is about engagement. Just because you feel a certain way does not mean that everyone agrees, and that disagreement may cost you a customer, or business associate. A rule I use myself when commenting on a controversial post is to pause and take some time to think about if your comment is really that important that you NEED to post it.
Remember, by keeping it factual, professional, and beneficial, you stand a much less chance of posting something that could turn others off to you or your company.
About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh based marketing consulting firm providing senior level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long term basis. Core areas of service are business development, marketing, strategic planning and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business growth.