Online Etiquette: Not So Far From Everyday Manners…

Branding Strategies: Online Etiquette: Not So Far From Everyday Manners…

One of the most common questions I receive from clients merging into the online space is how do I communicate with my “new friends” online, or “how do I reach out and make friends online?”  The answer is deceptively simple, and it is a question in return.  I reply, “how do you normally make new friends or talk to people you don’t know?,” because the same rule so of etiquette apply online.  You wouldn’t walk into a networking event, approach the first person you see, regardless of how they fit into your target market, and start selling them on your products/services…Or if you would, perhaps it is time for you to re-evaluate your sales strategy! 

The truth of the matter is, online rules of etiquette mirror the social etiquette rules you and I follow every day.  Tamar Weinberg, of Techipedia, writes, “Would you do the following within real face-to-face relationships?”

• Jump on the friendship bandwagon without properly introducing yourself?
• Consistently talk about yourself and promote only yourself without regard for those around you?
• Randomly approach a friend you barely talk to and simply ask for favors — repeatedly?

The answer is of course not, so why would you presume to act that way online?

The key to social media, and online marketing is engagement.  One-way conversations are not effective, are are most often times ignored by your potential customers.  One way conversations are the equivalent of SPAM.  To help your self develop solid relationships online, stay away from these examples of bad online etiquette from Tamar, and focus on really building a relationship with your users.

Bad Etiquette Examples

• Adding users as friends without proper introductions. If you’re looking to make friends, tell people who you are. Don’t assume they know you — especially if they, well, don’t.
• Using a fake name as your Facebook name.? I can’t tell you how many people have added me and their last name is “Com” or “Seo.”? I’m not adding you unless you can be honest about who you are.? Once upon a time, Facebook deleted all of the accounts that portrayed people as business entities or things.? I wish Facebook would employ the same tactics yet again, because I’m not adding a fake identity as a friend.
• Following a user and then un-following them before they have a chance to follow back. Or un-following them as soon as they follow you.
• Mass-following everyone so that you can artificially inflate your numbers. Then, you use that number as a success metric for influence.
• Not humanizing your profile. Twitter is also about real relationships. Add an avatar and a bio at the minimum. Let people know who you are.? To take it a step further, make it easy for people to contact you outside Twitter if necessary. This is especially important if someone on Twitter needs to reach you but can’t direct message you since you’re not following them!? If they’re making the effort, it’s probably because they really want to talk to you.? (Was it something you said?? Usually.)
• Gathering all the email addresses of users you are connected to — even locating email addresses of LinkedIn Group managers — and utilizing this mailing list to promote your own company or service off-site. In a specific case, I manage a few LinkedIn groups so my email address is far more visible on the site than I’d like. I’m not connected to the LinkedIn individual who spammed me, but he still took the liberty to use my email address for his personal gain in a completely unsolicited fashion. Perhaps this individual lost sight that LinkedIn is a professional network and not a spam facilitator. Even so, recipients should still be required to opt in.

Lastly, remember that everytime you enagage online, you are leaving a digitial footprint behind for all the world to see.  Communications are now more public than ever, and consumers are becoming less and less forgiving.  Stay away from the practices listed above, and really try to make a connection with your audience.  Only then will you truly be successful!