Every brand wants to use social media but often feels hesitant. That feeling is normal.
While the phrase “duplicated success” is well-known, we still opt to avoid social media, which can be disastrous.
In our post, we’ll share common social media blunders by employees that could have been easily avoided.
Social media is fickle, and the slightest misstep can make a significant negative impact and put a choke hold on your progress.
Like traveling from NC to Wyoming for the first time without GPS or a compass. You can end up stranded traveling in circles or worse on the side of the road for days.
To help you avoid that trap, we’ll highlight frequent mistakes and provide practical tips to help you avoid them.
Let’s get started.
1. Oversharing Confidential Information
Let’s start with the unthinkable a mistake that’s all too common yet often overlooked. Yep! Those employees who discuss confidential company information on social media, neither intentionally or unintentionally.
Disclosing Trade Secrets
Even in the early 1900s, Madam C.J. Walker fought to keep her beauty products’ ingredients secret. Unfortunately, you cannot trust anyone. Even her husband had loose lips, being persuaded by a lady.
It’s not unheard of an excited employee can’t keep a secret and leak the latest product idea. The competitor gets wind of it, and the rest is history.
So, how do you combat this?
You remind your team that no new offering is discussed outside this room until you hit the share button. Ensure this policy is clear, concise, enforced, and regularly policed.
Let’s not forget the legal ramifications. Premature product announcements can violate non-disclosure agreements and even lead to deal cancellations.
Everyone wants to join the social media fun, from doctor’s offices to lawyers, and even morgues. But some things should be left unseen. Companies should designate specific areas where employees can take videos that won’t compromise confidentiality.
2. Inappropriate Personal Content
Personal social media content is your business unless you share company info. This includes company letterheads and other correspondence. It’s easy to cross the line, and suddenly, you have a company problem.
We all like to believe that freedom is free, and that free speech is a thing. But we’ve also heard about employees getting fired because of inappropriate content shared on their social media platforms.
Avoid Posting Offensive or Controversial Views
You may have heard this a few times in your life, opinions are like [you know what]; everyone has one. Just because you have an opinion does not mean you have to express it. Offensive or controversial content posted on social media can hurt your brand’s image and reputation.
A slogan I heard swirling around Twitter: think twice before hitting send. Employees should also encourage team members to keep their personal views private. Social media policies, dos and don’ts, should be part of the company’s handbook.
Restraint from Sharing Excessive Party or Vacation Photos
They say pictures are worth a thousand words, and a slew of vacation and girls’ night out images can paint a picture you may not want management to see. Not to mention flooding the feed during work hours—that’s a double whammy and unprofessional.
Chatting about Workplace Grievances on Social Media
Dirty laundry belongs in the washer, not on social media. Les Brown once said, “Nobody wants to see your hickey; they have their scars.”
Remember, when you point one finger at someone, you have four pointing back at you. Other bosses and managers see you too. Keep your dislike for the person you have issues with privately and be professional enough to have a heart-to-heart talk with them.
3. Oversharing Confidential Information
Sharing Exaggerated or Inaccurate Product or Service Information
It’s easy to mix up details, especially if accuracy isn’t your strong suit. Exaggerating or what we used to call “ed-a-lie”—can be a slippery slope.
I’ve been asked a few times to introduce a speaker. We were taught; how to edify the speaker, which means, saying good things about them.
Sometimes this is easier said than done. So, my hubby and I coined a phrase, “ed-a-lie.” We stayed within the lines, but some people took it too far with their “ed-a-lies.” !🤣
Giving misinformation can lead to dissatisfied customers and can hurt your brand image and credibility.
Spewing Dissatisfaction with Customers or Competitors on Social Media
You may not be a hothead, but everyone has their days. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much, to push the wrong button, and your emotions get the best of you.
Online arguments can spiral out of control quickly, causing more trouble than you bargained for.
Implement a simple rule always interact with customers professionally. If the problem needs to be escalated do so through proper channels rather than engaging in public disputes.
4. Neglecting Privacy Settings
Accepting Friend Requests from Strangers
Association breeds assimilation. Birds of a feather flock together—we’ve all heard the clichés, and the world has too. Social media is exciting and is an easy way to meet friends. But like in-person relationships, you should proceed, with caution.
That said, you never know a person until you sleep with them. So be careful who you allow in your circle of influence. One bad apple will spoil the whole bag.
Our parents were right; it may seem harmless to tick that friend request acceptance button from people you don’t know, but this relationship can lead to security risks or unwanted attention.
As an example, you may have heard of Anna Delvey, a wealthy New York socialite. She appeared on Instagram and other social networks, sharing photos of her jet-setting and attending exclusive events.
Within a short time, she gained a massive following from influential friends dazzled by her wealth and influence.
Long story short, Anna Sorokin wasn’t a wealthy socialite she was a Russian immigrant with no real financial backing. The truth unraveled when she tried to secure a $22 million loan.
Truthfully, you can never be too cautious, but this cautionary tale is about accepting people into your circle without knowing who they are. This can damage your reputation and credibility.
5. Mixing Business with Personal Accounts
Never mix business with pleasure. Social media has helped blur the line, with funny skits from every profession. That said. It’s important to know where you stand and not cross it. It’s easy to let your guard down.
Regarding accounts, in haste we grab the first resource available, to get the job done. It may be a password issue or personal accounts are easier to access. Unfortunately, you never know where your information will land.
Here are five essential tips to help keep company communications private:
- Use dedicated business accounts for official business.
- Ensure all eligible team members have access to the company’s business account.
- Set a clear and concise rule that official business is conducted on business accounts only.
- Personal accounts should never be used for work-related activities.
- Never share business passwords or computer screens with non-official employees.
6. Violating Copyright and Intellectual Property Laws
Who has more content than the internet? Not only that, but it’s also so easy to share. Something as simple as that can bring risk and legal issues to your company.
This is a suing society; violating copyrights and crossing intellectual property laws are real concerns. We’ve all passed on funny memes, videos, and content and thought nothing of it.
And since millions have seen it, it’s fair game; right? Not necessarily. There are millions of highway speeders, but only a few get ticketed. Your company could be the one that gets the ticket in this case, a copyright strike.
Sending copyrighted material without permission can lead to serious legal consequences for your company.
Avoid Using Copyrighted Images Without Permission
Images are one of the things we share without much thought. We see a funny image; a relatable photo, or a graphic, and we share it. Image creators often tag their work to make it harder to duplicate or use without permission.
Also, they use tracking software which lets them know when their images are being used.
To avoid legal issues, don’t use images without permission. At the very least credit the creator with a cite source link. Not following the rules can lead to costly fines and a damaged reputation. This also holds for music.
The moral of the section is to use personal accounts for personal matters and follow strict rules about official business.
7. Plagiarism, Using Content without Attribution
There are strange things that are unethical and illegal. And like they say, ignorance is bliss. And “I didn’t know” isn’t an excuse.
Original content is the only absolute way to know your content is not plagiarized.
That’s time-consuming and takes a level of skill. Factor in other components, and it’s a full-time job. Or use UGC (User-Generated Content), where all the attributions and credits are already in place. Plagiarizing content can lead to legal complaints and tarnished brand integrity.
What to Do Instead:
- Craft Original Content: Develop unique and original content that reflects your brand’s voice and values.
- Credit the Source: Always give proper credit to the original creator by providing clear citations and links.
- Use UGC Responsibly: Ensure all attributions are correctly applied, and permissions are obtained when using UGC content.
- Educate Your Team: Routinely train staff to properly attribute content and the importance of intellectual property rights.
- Use Plagiarism Detection Tools: Before publishing confirm that the content is original and legally sound. Employ tools like ZeroGPT and Copyleaks to check for plagiarism.
CONCLUSION:
Social media has become an indispensable tool for businesses of all types and sizes. So, since we know there is no way to avoid becoming a socialite, let’s play as safely as possible.
Our 7 common social media blunders by employees are just the start …
Let’s recap:
- Never mix business with personal.
- Get permission to use copyrighted material.
- Don’t plagiarize—use a plagiarism checker to test.
- Do not share confidential info via personal accounts.
- Avoid using copyrighted images without permission.
What do you think about our post? Was it beneficial? Is it the kind of post you’d recommend to your BFF? If so, hit the share button. Bookmark and comment below.
By commenting, we know what’s working and what’s not. Your feedback is valuable.
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FAQs
1. What should I do if I accidentally post sensitive information on social media?
Accidents happen. If you inadvertently hit the send button, try deleting the post. I know Facebook has a delete post button. Worse case, contact the social media administrator and have them rectify the problem.
2. How can companies educate employees about social media best practices?
The best way to keep employees informed, about social media is to have regularly scheduled training sessions. Additionally, there should be company best practices guidelines that are easily accessible. Lastly, the company must keep the resources, social media policies, and best practices up-to-date.
3. How often should company social media policies be reviewed?
social media, like the online world or digital age, evolves rapidly. That said, company policies should be reviewed quarterly to stay ahead of the game, and after any significant changes or updates to social media platforms.
