Kseniya I. Content Marketing Expert

Social media etiquette: 11 rules to show your good manners

Social media is extremely crowded these days. People from all walks of life gather to discuss the success of Cristiano Ronaldo, draw inspiration from National Geographic landscapes or collect the most unusual recipes. All of these users have a different outlook and sometimes go through days with a bad mood. How do you make everyone feel at home in your account?

For this, etiquette was invented in the real world.

Be kind and responsive

Articles about social media management tend to focus on the algorithms of a particular platform. But social networks are primarily about people. It is a place where users create communities, share ideas, and seek pleasure and entertainment. By following the rules of etiquette, you switch your attention from the platform to communication with people. Understanding their intentions and helping them deal with their problems in a respectful way should always be at the center of your business.

Everyone makes mistakes. However, pointing the finger at a mistake never helps anyone. The ability to recognize the imperfection of everyone and make amends helps the brand look sincere and genuine even in the most dubious situations.

Focus on a positive image

As a brand, you can be an inspiration and a teacher to your followers. Avoiding behavior that can distract you from setting high standards and hurt someone's feelings will help you stay on top.

Good manners reflect strategic thinking. Etiquette saves time, improves understanding, and ensures that all parties get what they need. In addition, social media etiquette as a set of universal rules obliges you to align your content, voice, and overall tactics.

Be like a person

From highly professional images and in-depth posts, social media etiquette has shifted to showcasing the personal side of the account owner. Impeccable looks and knowledge will not keep you engaged at a high level. Whether you are an individual or a company, you need to show your true personality. So stop relying on spineless stock photos and start showing what you do with real backstage photos.

Meaningful captions and the tone of the conversation matter. Talking to your audience online should be the same as if you were talking in person is one of the basic rules of chat communication. If you emphasize your experience too much, you will look unapproachable.

React to all comments

If someone leaves a comment under your post, it means they viewed it and took time to respond. It's valuable and it's good manners to acknowledge it.

In addition to looking good, replies to comments can significantly increase engagement. Surveys prove that users are more likely to comment on posts in which they see the active and direct participation of the author. Moreover, many users pay special attention to negative comments and company reactions. Thus, depending on how quickly and tactfully you respond to angry reviews, you can earn or lose customers.

Place situational content in stories

Without a doubt, stories are an important tool for your marketing. However, there are no hard and fast rules about what you should post in your stories and what you should post in your feed. Because of their fleeting nature, stories are often seen as a place for non-serious content. Whereas posts are where the face of your brand comes out.

First, new posts appear at the top of the feed, and no one likes to be bombarded with photos taken on the go. Stories look more delicate and are easy to scroll through. And while stories are mostly used for casual, less formal communication, they're perfect for sharing moments and interacting with an existing audience. Since they will disappear after 24 hours, there is more room for creativity.

Statistics show that 70% of users watch stories with sound, but correct etiquette still involves the use of captions in stories. In this way, you highlight the most important points and help your subscribers decide whether they should stop listening and listen to valuable information.

Prepare for joint projects carefully

If you have to partner with another business, consider how best to incorporate their product or service into your brand image. Remember that over 50% of social media users consider products promoted by influencers, whether mega or nano, to be better than others. Think about your subscribers and whether what you are promoting is really good for them.

Before you start writing a post, contact a representative of the partner company and discuss your ideas. Make sure their product or service really addresses your audience's pain points.

Watch your grammar

Social networks have given us the opportunity to instantly do business, share ideas with thousands of people. However, you should be careful not to send an ambiguous message. This is where grammar comes into play.

A comma can drastically change the meaning. But what would happen if there were no punctuation marks at all? Depending on what the user thinks, this can harm them and provoke a flood of negative comments about your brand.

Good grammar is another rule of social media etiquette that increases your credibility and adds legitimacy to information. Mistakes, however, can lead to ridicule or even hateful comments.

You can not use someone else's content without attribution

Content creators spend a lot of time and money on their work. Using someone else's image or text will make it look like you entered someone else's house and ate everything that the owners prepared for dinner without asking. Instead, ask for permission to repost and always credit the author. Some authors may want to be paid, while others are willing to lend their work for free. It will spare your mental health and in some cases your reputation.

Don't post too often

Even if you can create several high-quality images in a short time, think about what it's like to scroll through the feed only to see photos from the same event?

In addition to annoying your followers, you also run the risk of being fined by platforms for spamming. So, if you absolutely have to post multiple photos, consider combining them into one post using a carousel.

Don't focus on getting new subscribers

Businesses know that retaining an existing customer is 5 times cheaper than acquiring a new one. If your current audience sees that you've focused all your efforts on getting new subscribers, they may just leave.

A small and loyal community around your brand is much more valuable than a bunch of strangers who don't know anything about you and don't participate in any way. Your followers will only be useful to your business if they support what you do. Create a customer persona and work to get that person, not random people. The real value of your social media efforts is leads and sales.

Don't complain

Sometimes things don't go according to plan, but complaining about customers or competitors has never been considered good manners. Instead of talking about an ungrateful audience and an unfair social platform algorithm, try to understand what could be done better. After all, if your posts aren't getting enough attention, chances are they aren't as good as you think.

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