thousands of virtual strangers, literally within seconds. You barely need to
have formed a cohesive thought, and BOOM! There it is, posted for the world
to see.
But before you hit that 'publish' button, do me a favor: run through this
list of the top 10 things you should never post on social media. It just may
save you from causing hurt or embarrassment to yourself or others!
1. Offensive content on social media
Where do I start? There are so many types of posts that fall into this
category. Racial slurs, graphic images, crude jokes, swearing (except in the
rare event this is an integral part of your brand), to name just a few.
Some business owners don't think it's a big deal to occasionally post a
distasteful joke or questionable picture; I strongly disagree. This lack of
awareness and respect can cause irreparable harm to your brand. When in
doubt, leave it out!
2. Gossip or attacks against specific people
If you've been hurt or harmed in some way, you may feel justified in lashing
out on social media. However, there are two big problems with this: First,
when you specifically call someone out in such a public venue, you often
leave that relationship in a state of disrepair. It's pretty hard to recover
from that type of attack! Second, this type of public shaming often says
more about you than the person you're talking about. It sends the message
that you don't respect others, and may damage the trust your audience has in
you ("Why should I trust you when I see how easily you can turn on
others?").
3. Claiming other people's content as your own
Any time you use someone else's content without attribution – images,
quotes, or original ideas – you run some pretty serious risks. Remember that
copyright infringement is a serious offence that can lead to legal action,
and that can do serious damage to your brand. While you may get away with it
in the short term, it's just not worth it!
4. Speaking negatively about an employee/boss/co-worker
Social media isn't the place to air grievances against employees or
co-workers. It also isn't the place to give specific details about mistakes
your employees have made, or about how insufferable your boss is. Sharing
this type of content on social media is not only unprofessional, in rare
circumstances it can be grounds for legal action.
5. Sharing specifics about an upcoming holiday or business trip
Sharing images or videos from a trip is great for helping your followers
feel like they're in on the action. The trouble is, you don't know exactly
who's listening in! Avoid mentioning specific details about your trip
(dates, locations, etc.). Better yet, share pictures once you're back!
6. Private conversations (without permission)
Have you ever received an email or private message from a follower that you
couldn't wait to share with your audience? Maybe it was an awesome tip or
trick, or maybe it was a shining testimonial about your product? It's always
a good idea to ask for permission before sharing this type of content on
social media. If you're going to be sharing a screenshot or any identifying
information, you DEFINITELY need to get written permission first!
7. Too much personal information
You know I talk a lot about being yourself on social media. This mean being
authentic, and letting your followers see the real YOU. This doesn't mean,
however, that you should let it all 'hang out'! Make sure you have a good
balance of informative, industry-specific content, mixed with some personal
tidbits to let your followers know you're a REAL person!
8. Financial information
Obviously, you never want to share sensitive financial information like your
bank account or credit card numbers (!). But I also discourage business
owners from sharing info like financial projections, quotas or earnings.
While this can be acceptable in certain industries (e.g., online marketers
often share monthly income reports), this isn't the norm in most industries.
9. Sharing posts or links that aren't substantiated
Before sharing a post or article that could be controversial or sensational,
always be sure to do your homework. Sharing posts that end up being scams
(or that are simply inaccurate) can send the message that you're naïve or
that you don't care enough to fact-check. And it goes without saying: before
sharing ANY link, be sure to click on it yourself first!
10. Anything you don't want to be online FOREVER
When you put something on social media, you have to assume it's out there
permanently. In the age of screenshots, there is no 'taking it back', even
if you've made a big mistake. Before you post anything remotely personal or
sensitive, ask yourself, "Do I want this to be online forever?" If the
answer is no, don't hit the 'post' button!
my motto is "Keep it simple" and "don't leave anything for tomorrow that can
be done today."
Regards Gerald Crawford
Stellenbosch South Africa
E-mail: gerald@webcraft.ws
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