5 Things You Don’t Want to Do on Facebook

Guest Blog:  Melanie Adamich, HDI Web Strategy Manager

So I think pretty much the whole of the world’s population is now connected to Facebook in some fashion. If you’re not ON Facebook, you have a least a handful of friends or colleagues who talk about their experiences on Facebook.  

And Facebook is where most mix business + pleasure. I am always hesitant to friend co-workers or clients but heck, I’m an open book but I always keep in mind who my audience is (broad as it is).

Anyway, whether you’re Facebooking to keep in touch with friends/family  or running a fan page for your business, there’s 5 things you need to abide by & not do:

5. Don’t Friend Co-Workers

Here I am already breaking my first rule – I’m friends with a lot of my co-workers on Facebook. However, do as I say and not as I do. Office politics and your personal life should be kept separate. You don’t want anything you do or say on Facebook to come back and bite you in the career.

And, you probably shouldn’t friend your boss. Your boss may be very cool but one little status update or inappropriate photo may cost you your job. Once again, I’m break that rule but my boss is hardly ever on FB so I feel safer.

4. Don’t Let Your Friends Post Drunk Pictures

Friends don’t let friends drive drunk, but you also shouldn’t let your friends tag you in drunken pictures. Remember that night at Sam’s bar, when you got up on the bar and did the Running Man? Yea well, Lisa posted that picture of you on Facebook, tagging you. A potential employer saw that picture and very methodically ripped your resume in two and threw it in the trash.

3. Don’t Blatantly Sell to Your Fans

We see advertising all day long. Social media is really the means to connect and share ideas/ thoughts. You want to engage your audience. Not turn them off. You will if you blatantly tell them to buy your product or services. Engage them with chances to win stuff. Give them information they can use. If you want to offer them a discount on what you’re selling, it’s perfectly acceptable  – People dig promo codes. Dig, I say!

2. Don’t Post Things You Wouldn’t Want Grandma to Read

Along the same lines as that drunken photo of you. If it’d make Grandma blush, it’ll make a potential employer shy away. It can also be a big turn off to those you want to network and do business with. If you cuss like a sailor, don’t let that show on Facebook. Truck driving language on FB is a big no-no.

1. Don’t Post Inspirational Quotes

I friended you and come on Facebook to hear what you have to say, not what Ghandi or Socrates has to say about the meaning of life. If you can’t think of anything to say, well, how about just not saying it? If you want your daily dose of inspirational quotes, like this page. However, I find song lyrics perfectly acceptable. Don’t ask me why – they just are. These are my rules right?

Well, I could go on. I have many more Facebook rules I’d love to share so look for me to be back on the HDI Community blog for my commentary on things you shouldn’t & should do on Facebook.

About the Blogger

Melanie Adamich spends her days managing all of the HDI web properties. When she’s not doing that, she’s trying to teach her son how to say “dog,” planning her high school reunion, or purchasing items for her upcoming tropical vacation coming up.  3 weeks, 2 days, 14 hours, 34 minutes and 11 seconds – but really, who’s counting?? If you’d like to friend Melanie, go ahead, but be warned that you’ll learn all you ever need to know about her 16 month old; and on Mondays & Thursdays you’ll be reading her rants & ravings about the Real Housewives.