I was recently asked by someone I greatly respect to give them my top 5 social media tips.  I was surprised by the question, as I assume it’s common sense.  But after really thinking about it, I think most people just don’t have time or energy to really think it through.  I want to share what I think are the most important social media tips for students, experts and everyone in between.

1. The Golden Rule

   Treat others the way you wish to be treated.  It could not be truer in the world of social media.  Be nice to others, and they will be nice to you.  Complain all the time, and all you will get are complaints.  If you are really sick of people posting pictures of their dogs, think about that the next time you post a picture of your children.  It’s basically the same thing.  Put out on social media what you want to get in return.  And if people in your timelines are flooding you with content you don’t want to see, just hide them or unfollow them.  It’s not worth dealing with something that causes you stress.

2. Brand Yourself

   You are your brand.  You represent yourself at all times on social media.  You can’t be one person at work and another person when you get home.  Grab your name, or a variation on your name on all social media sites, as well as gmail.  Your email is one of the most important pieces of this puzzle that people often forget.  I will judge you by your email address, your twitter handle and your profile picture.  That’s just the truth.  I have gotten resumes before with an email address like: SexyKittyXXX@email.com.  This is not ok and I will not hire you.  In fact, if you seriously think it’s ok to send out a resume with this sort of email address, I don’t want to be your friend.

3. Not All Social Media Platforms Are Created Equally

   You need to understand the different cultures on the different social media sites.  Twitter is not the same as Facebook.  The quickest way for me to hide you on Facebook is if you “live blog” to your timeline.  That is what Twitter is for.  The same goes for photos.  If you are posting photos to Facebook every 5 minutes, you’re gone.  That is what Instagram is for.  You may think only your twitter followers, or Facebook friends see your posts.  You are wrong.  Just know that your employer will see if you are talking bad about them, because someone else will see it and screen-grab it.  I’ve seen it happen over and over again.  Just refer back to rule #1.

4. Know Your Network

   Similar to #1- know the network you are on.  But also, have a good idea who is following you! You want to know if your work competition is following you.  That may change what you tweet.  I work for a news station – so I hope people understand that if I see something on twitter or facebook, I may reach out to them to use it on the news.  Some people are surprised when I do this.  But if you know me, then you shouldn’t be surprised.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Try

   Social media is all about experimenting.  When Facebook launched, many thought it was stupid.  When Twitter launched, one of my former bosses actually told me, “get over it, it’s just a fad.”  Well, you are wrong.  It’s worth getting out there, reserving your brand on the new network, and seeing if it’s right for you.  All social media is an evolution of something that came before.  So you need to know what’s out there now to understand what’s coming next.  Don’t be afraid to try.

I’d love to know your thoughts! Questions? Anything to add?