Today, we often find ourselves submersed in social media – whether it’s our own personal account or our company’s. It’s common to tweet whatever comes to mind at any given moment, but it is important to remember that what we say on our personal account can still be a reflection of our company. Sometimes, simply saying “my tweets/thoughts are my own” isn’t enough to cover inappropriate tweeting.

A recent article published by PR Daily offers six tips on how to avoid a personal PR crisis via social media that are beneficial for anyone who uses social media for themselves or their brand. Take note, and remember to think before you tweet…

1. Keep it clean – Even though vulgar language is becoming more main stream in television and music, it still isn’t appropriate on social media.  You have to be cognizant of the fact that some of your personal followers may work for clients of your company or at least know someone who does. They won’t be impressed by crude tweets, and neither will your boss.
2. Make sure you don’t mind seeing it again – Sure, you can delete that tweet you posted in a temporary moment of insanity, but that doesn’t always mean it’s truly gone. Someone may have had time to screen capture it or, at the very least, see it before you removed it. Before you tweet, make sure your message is something you don’t mind boomeranging back to you – or your co-workers.
3. Consider whether your boss/family/friends would be mortified if they saw it – Don’t give them something to talk about. If you think that someone you are close to would be embarrassed to see the post, don’t publish it. It’s not worth the humiliation to yourself or your company.
4. Take the high road – Drama tends to go viral quickly. Don’t get sucked into the trap. Keep your tweets clean, courteous and professional. Being a jerk won’t get you ahead in your career or win you any favor within your company. Remember: no one can dig up any dirt on you if you don’t have any to offer.
5. Plan some scenarios – There is the potential for good or bad feedback to your message, regardless of what it is about. Think about what you will say if someone praises your post, and what you would say if they bashed it. Having a game plan for your message will help you generate better conversations with your followers and will show your colleagues that you are mindful of what you’re saying.
6. Don’t mix work and play – Sure we’re all Facebook friends with our coworkers, but your supervisors may not appreciate seeing pictures of your drunken state last Friday night. Pick one social media outlet to use personally and one to use more professionally. Tweet mindfully for yourself or your company on one, and interact personally with coworkers and friends on the other. If you can keep the boundaries clear between work life and social life, you’ll be less likely to get caught in a social media faux pas.

Photo courtesy of DreamsTime