Social Media 101: How to Act Online

For companies looking to create new business opportunities on social media sites, social networking can either be a blessing or a curse, and is often a combination of the two.

In some cases, companies fail to realize what social media is all about: being social. They fail to interact with people via social media, and are merely content to have profiles/pages on the most popular social media sites. The other half of the time, businesses fail to promote their company and its services, instead relying on witty (often non-business related) banter, jokes, and other less professional interactions to help acquire fans and followers. However, this sort of behavior is typically counterproductive, and often yields few, if any, potential client interactions. The trick is to find a happy medium between the two; to be both interesting and fun, but at the same time never loosing focus that your social media presence is for business purposes. Let’s discuss how to accomplish this.

  1. First of all, always, always, ALWAYS take a second to think about what you’re posting. Is it appropriate for the workplace? Would you discuss it with a potential client during a meeting? Be sure to take these questions into consideration before every post and you’ll safeguard against inappropriate social media behavior for a business.
  2. Next, be sure to focus your discussions and posts on your industry. While many companies post information about themselves, don’t be afraid to post information about others as well. If the information is industry-related, don’t be afraid to post about it. Your fans will appreciate the change of pace and your company’s willingness to talk about something other than itself.
  3. Finally, be sure to keep up your profile, particularly where it asks for biographical information, and be professional and not too personal. Photos from your family vacation may be fun to look at for your fans, but they don’t say much about you in terms of your business. Be sure to regularly monitor your online reputation and begin to do so by making sure that your profile is an extension of your business self, not your personal self.

When it comes to legal Internet marketing campaigns, social media is essential these days, and the best way to approach social media interactions is to relate them to real-life situations. Every time you post, tweet, or update your profile, think of yourself as doing so during a business meeting with not only your current clients, but a large group of potential clients. Are you going to tell that crowd about your favorite type of food or what you thought about the movie you saw this past Saturday night, or are you going to display to them that you are a business professional, an authority in your field, and someone whom they can trust and count on for pertinent information about your particular industry. Social media sites call on individuals to be more social, but working professionals should never lose site of the fact that their profiles are being used for business purposes. Being an interesting authority on social networking sites isn’t easy to do, but it is possible. For more information about how to make the most out of your social media presence, connect with the legal Internet marketing team at SLS Consulting. Call (323) 254-1510 today!

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