Updated: 7 (5) beginner mistakes to avoid in social media & blogging

Everyone makes mistakes, and those who have made them, tend to have a desire of not wanting others to do the same. Personally I’m some where in between when it comes to blogging and social media. I’m still learning but I’m experienced enough to teach others. So I thought I would start by sharing a few things about what NOT to do. Some are mistakes I’ve made myself and others are mistakes which I see other making.

Creating accounts that you don’t use

When it comes to personal accounts most people are very forgiving when they find account that people don’t use. It usually says more about the network than the person. The problems start how ever, when you leave accounts that you have been using without a word. For example an old twitter account, people might not realise that you have stopped tweeting and is wondering why you don’t answer. Which puts you in a bad light, this goes for emails and everything else. Be careful with “looking active” where you are not. I have also seen this done by companies which I find even worse.

Not having any contact information

This one I’ve stumbled upon a lot since I’ve tried to get to know the people behind the blog etc. But many ‘forget’ or choose to not put up a contact form or an email address. I wonder just how many opportunities are lost that way.

Automated messages

Automated messages is one of the things which I really oppose. First of all you “represent” things that you cannot control. Second, people think that you are around and you might not answer. Third, people might start questioning your motives if you just send out a feed. If you want to be around in social media, make sure that you are around and not some robot version of who you are.

Not follow up on replies

This goes for both social networks and blog comments and any other communication online. If people are trying to communicate with them do not leave them hanging. Even if you don’t reply until a few hours later, make sure that you do reply because people will remember. I have unfollowed people that I’ve tried contact who have not answered many times. With some it is understandable because they have too many followers, but for the people like me, I find it as rude as not responding to a hello when you meet IRL.

Promoting yourself to much

This is one of the lessons I read about most. And which I’ve been good at following because you can read it in any book about social media and personal branding. People wont listen to you if you only talk about yourself. There is not much more to that point. Try to promote other peoples stuff and to talk with people and not only write and share your own content.

After talking with a few people on Twitter about this posting I figured I would add two lessions to this post.

1. Be careful with information related to employers or clients

This suggeston came from Gert Lambers on Twitter, and I could not agree more. It is important to seperate your own opinions from your employeers. Either you can state it in a sentence “my opinions on twitter does not reflect my employer”, but also make sure you think twice when you post something which has any relevance to your work.

@GertLambers  “Being careful with info related to employers or clients would be wise, 1 should make sure to be compliant with employers rules”

2. Listen more than you speak

The second tip came from Adrian Chira, who says it all, we have 2 ears and 1 month and should use them accordinly. Listen more than you speak. And I would says that listning twice as much as you speak is not an exaggeration at all.

@adrianchira I would add that we have 1 mouth and 2 ears and we should use them accordingly so first try to listen more than you speak

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