Think Before You Post

One of the best things about the internet is that it’s a treasure trove of information. Old, new, archived, almost anything can be discovered online. And this very asset is also the reason why each and every one of us needs to think before we post.

In these days where we’re all interconnected to the extreme, it’s more important than ever before that we think carefully about every published foray we make into cyberspace. The web is like a giant bulletin board that the whole world can see.

We’ve all heard the horror stories. The Tweet Heard Round the World, the nasty Twitter-fight, the posting of inappropriate photos by college kids, etc. There are new examples every day. And seemingly, some people never learn their lesson. It’s a steep learning curve.

Granted, it can be a tough lesson to learn, especially when mini blogging and status updates seem geared towards stream-of-consciousness thinking. But every whim is not a wise way to post. Every time you take to your keyboard, remember that this picture, posting, tweet or update could be seen by your mother-in-law, a potential future employer, your fiancée, ex-best friend from middle school, the President of the United States, etc. Weigh every word.

For organizations and businesses that want to encourage staff to use social media, the best thing to do would be to create some guidelines. Having a standard set of rules will help newbies learn the ropes and learn what they can and cannot do. JB Inc. recently implemented its own Social Media Policy, outlining some key points for employees to consider when posting anything online-company related or not. Generally, it’s common sense. If you wouldn’t want someone to see it years from now, or you wouldn’t want it broadcast to the general public . . . don’t post it.

In order to maintain brand integrity and insure that your company is well represented, it’s crucial to employ these sorts of standards.

Nothing really dies in a digital world, and you never know who might see what you post.

As Jennifer says, “First impressions online are so much more informed than a normal ‘first impression’. In a meeting first impression, people are judging you by your sense of style, mannerisms, poise (or lack thereof) and your ‘elevator pitch’. This information is processed through our personal filters of what these mean to us – good upbringing, doing well in life, takes care of themselves, educated, talks smoothly. What it doesn’t do is inform you of the content of that person’s character. You judge a book by its cover. But, online – now that’s a different first impression all together. People are consistently Googling future employees, firm team members, potential clients – and it gives us a much better picture. It’s a more informed first impression, gathered by how you conduct yourself online – who your associates are, what you read, what you’ve accomplished and how you write. Today online is not ‘a personal life’ and a ‘professional life’. It’s just Life. How do you live yours?”

Similar Posts

• Working for the Weekend?
• Facebook Top Fodder for Divorce Cases
• Twitter’s First Promoted Trending Topic Appears
• Search: It’s Not Just About Google Anymore
• How Facebook Has Forever Changed High School Reunions

Comments

About Author