It’s no secret that social media is the meeting ground for people to connect on a personal and professional level. With such a wide reach and billions of active users every day, it can be a wonderful opportunity to connect and expand. 

However, that’s not to say that it doesn’t come with a certain learning curve. There are do’s and don’ts that social media users should know if they hope to have a positive experience. 

Whether you’ve reached retirement age, or you’re a junior in high school, the same rules apply. Here are some of the biggest social media blunders that you should lookout for at all costs.

Ignoring Your Audience

Social media is a— you guessed it, social experience. In other words, it’s a two way street. Don’t forget that in addition to expecting your audience to engage with you, that you’ll need to do the same thing.

Any time someone likes your posts, comments, or shares, you need to re engage and do the same favor in return. Even though your relationships online may be considered digital, the same rules apply as real world friendships. 

Think of it this way— if you’re friends with someone and it’s only you that calls them or sends messages to keep in touch, after a while you’re going to realize that it’s a one-sided friendship. 

Don’t come across as cold or uninterested when people interact with you. This applies to you whether you’re using social media for personal purposes or business. Just say no to ignoring!

Long Periods of Silence

Hello silence my old friend— you are no friend of social media.  Beyond consistent posting encouraging people to continue visiting your page and interacting, there’s also the algorithm of social media to consider. If you fail to post for long periods of time, you’ll stop showing up on people’s algorithms whether they want to see your material or not. 

If you hope to be seen and included in your social media community, then it’s important that you post consistently. If you’re the kind of person that prefers to be a fly on the wall, then that’s okay too, but that’s not going to do you any favors if your goal is expanding your network.

Oversharing

We all know that person that shares just a little too much information about themselves. Don’t be like that awkward aunt at Thanksgiving dinners. When in doubt about whether you’re oversharing or not, always err on the side of caution. 

You never know when you could share information about yourself that could be used against you, or make others uncomfortable. Remember, the internet never forgets. Anything you post online could be screenshotted and saved forever, so always be mindful before sharing anything about yourself that could be considered controversial or even embarrassing.