Spotting the social media mistakes of others is easy. However, you are just as likely to kill your reputation on social media too. The goal is for your social networking skills to enhance your opportunities. But occasionally we all succumb to lack of time, judgment, or diligence.
Be on guard against these five ways you can kill your social media reputation:
1. Never Engaging in Real-Life
Turn those virtual connections into coffees and lunches. As Nathan Bingham once told me, “it’s great when pixels become people.” Therefore, a face-to-face meeting turns you from a faceless computer entity into an engaging and intelligent, real-life person. And, more importantly, a potential asset to corporate contacts.
I’m not saying you need to set up face-to-face appointments with the hundreds (and possibly thousands) of people who follow you. But it’s never a bad idea to handpick a few people you want to connect with and set yourself apart by creating mutually beneficial relationships that go offline from time to time.
2. Painting an Inaccurate Self-Portrait
Read your story as shared on your timelines. When the tweets and sentences are strung together, who have you revealed yourself to be?
Your life on the Internet has a theme. Make sure that your public information is balanced. If your story is punctuated by frequent happy hours, personal woe, or is obviously self-focused, that will be the heading under which casual observers (and potential/current employers) will know you.
Only your nearest and dearest (or creepers) will read every posting. So, check your timelines frequently to be sure you are maintaining an overall balance of the You that you wish to share publicly.
3. Always Retweeting People Who Mention You In A Tweet
It’s just annoying.
4. Failing To Promote Others
If social media is not used properly then it can fuel narcissism and arrogance.
When it comes to building your business and developing a powerful network, you’ll want to develop a reputation as someone who highlights others. Not only does this give credit where credit is due, it also communicates that you’re secure with your success and have the ability to promote others in your industry.
5. No Accountability
One way you will fall prey to killing your reputation online is by not having any accountability.
You need people in your life who will be intentional with confronting you about the way you are using social media. Therefore, the best way to prevent killing your online reputation is surrounding yourself with people to help hold you accountable for what you say and do.
So remember your online profile in its many and varied forms represents you — often without the opportunity for response. So, anticipation is key to defining and defending the professional reputation you’ve built. Your corporate experience, successes, and resume remain strong components of your professional image. But never forget the influence of the candid online view. It’s never “just Facebook,” or “just Twitter” when it wields the power to impact your career.
What are some other ways you can kill your social media reputation?
