Facebook Etiquette - Yes, it's a thing!
FACEBOOK ETIQUETTE DEFINED
Etiquette is defined (by the Bing search engine) as the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group. There’s an unspoken and unofficial code from business-to-business on social media. The same thing goes for business-to-customers. Let’s be frank…unless you want to cross a fine line and tick off your neighbor, here are a few things to keep in mind when navigating the waters of Facebook:
#1 ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
We all scour social media searching for an idea that will give us our own breakout moment to shine. It’s so tempting to hit right click, copy, and save to a competitor’s image that has had hundreds of likes, but don’t do it. First of all, there are copyright issues, and second of all, just don’t. Rather, if you must share the image, do so by hitting share, but be sure to give your competitor credit for their hard work and efforts. Don’t forget to put the topping on the cake and give them a shout-out for the work! It’s a great way to build community trust (and maybe even give yourself a little plug).
#2 NETWORK AS YOURSELF
Let’s face it, we all work hard to gain a strong following on social media. Is commenting as your business name on a competitor’s page the time to try and gain more customers? I think not! If you admire their work so much, give the post a share on your page. If you absolutely must comment, do so as yourself - this builds business owner to business owner trust and credibility. Facebook isn’t like Instagram, where it’s socially acceptable to like and network as your business, unless it’s on your own business page.
#3 NEVER ASSUME
You know what they say about assuming? Never assume that it’s ok to share an image that was privately messaged to you by a customer. Never assume that it’s ok to post pictures of customers or guests (especially kids) without their permission. When in doubt, get it in writing (even if it’s clearly stated in an email). Always cover yourself! You just never know when someone will get upset about their picture being used on social media.
Just like the childhood rule goes, always be friendly to your neighbors, and the favor will be returned!
Happy Facebooking!
-Carrie
You know what they say about assuming? Yeah, just don’t!