Comments on: Social Media Do’s and Don’ts

By: Trisha Miller

Trisha Miller — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:37:08 +0000

Hi Stephen – thanks for stopping by! Glad you liked this post

1. Yes, although it isn’t necessary to thank folks for retweeting, it’s considered good manners, and serves two important purposes:

a) it sends a not-so-subtle cue to your followers that you notice, and appreciate, when they retweet your messages, encouraging more retweets those you thank as well as those who have yet to RT for you; and

b) it helps those you’re thanking to gain more followers, which they will appreciate. Any time you help others, it comes back to you in spades.

Also when you thank others they will be much more amenable to helping you out on those occasions when you have something you really need help getting retweeted. More than half of social media success is in the connections that you make.

2. It is my personal opinion that MySpace is, if not on it’s way out, quickly becoming irrelevant for business people, as they are not flocking to it in large numbers as they are to Twitter and Facebook. I don’t think it’s crucial for your magazine to have a MySpace page, but it also isn’t necessary to ditch it if you do have one, I just wouldn’t focus a lot of effort there.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:45:34 +0000

Excellent post, as always on TWEX.

A couple of questions:

1) Should you tweet thanking someone for their retweet of yours “@xyz thanks for the retweet”? I see it a lot…but that doesn’t make it right.

2) I thought MySpace was on its way out. Is it crucial that my online travel magazine have a MySpace page?

Thanks,
Stephen
Stephen´s last blog post: A Swim in Lake Tanganyika

By: Trisha

Trisha — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:45:26 +0000

Thanks Maralyn, for your kind words and unfailing support – I really appreciate it!

I wish sometimes I could reach out to some of the people on Twitter and say “please let me give you some advice!” …..for example, just today I quit following someone whom I would ordinarily be very interested in following, as he’s a travel writer who also runs a very active site for booking travel and travel blogging, but most of his Tweets are about soccer games and soccer players…..aaaarrrgh! AND another person I UNfollowed because most of her Tweets are random, old cliched travel quotes – very frustrating!

I really think Twitter has the potential to be a really useful tool for business, if business people would just stop overusing it to broadcast irrelevant noise about their personal lives – the occasional Tweets on a personal note are fine, but when it’s the majority of what you’re Tweeting about, it’s too much.

By: Maralyn D. Hill

Maralyn D. Hill — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:17:56 +0000

Very good and exceptionally clear article. I work at trying to keep my information 95% business with some personal comments.

If people would keep most to business, it would work out well. That is, if business is what they are promoting.

However, I agree that it is great to have a personal account for friends and family.

In any case, as usual, this is very well written.

Maralyn

By: Twitted by hoyttrac

Twitted by hoyttrac — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:46:58 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by hoyttrac [...]

By: Joann

Joann — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:11:17 +0000

Great post! Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are all wonderful tools for both business and personal use. But, just as in the office, what’s said around the water cooler is not repeated in the board room. Wonderful reminder of do’s and don’ts.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:19:14 +0000

Thanks for the reminder about social media dos and dont’s. I do my best to post relevant information and not bombard people as people do with email marketing. Oy! That gets overwhelming — receiving an email EVERY DAY from a company. That’s when I opt out

By: Trisha

Trisha — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:35:32 +0000

Thanks Rebecca – I always appreciate your feedback!

There is a way around that issue on Facebook – in addition to (personal) profiles, they allow you to set up Pages (as you’ve discovered) – such as Fan Pages, Group Pages, and Cause Pages. Fan Pages are used most often by bands or brands, but I have seen some companies using them as a normal business page too.

I think Facebook is okay with someone having both a personal profile and a business profile if you feel a profile page is better than one of the Page options above, but you’re right that it is time-consuming and sometimes overwhelming to keep up on so many different profiles and networks…..and to do it well. Some larger companies are now hiring people to do nothing but that – that could be a fun job!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:31:22 +0000

Great post Trisha! Thanks for the reminder of Social Media Dos and Dont’s.

Facebook only allows you to have one Profile Page. I did have 2 Profile Pages (personal) (business) but ended up deleting one of them. Updating two Facebook profile pages was getting to be too much. I’m surprised Facebook didn’t “catch” me. Anyway, I took Facebook’s advice and created a Page. I do have some family members on Facebook but that’s all right. MySpace is more personal, haven’t created another account. I joined LinkedIn and will become acclimated with it.

Sometimes social media can be overwhelming. It’s like “how much is too much?” Off to “Tweet” something.