YOUR Social Media Reputation Mistakes?

Social media has transformed the world as we know it. It keeps us connected to friends and family and brings humor into our lives when we need it most. But like anything, there can be a dark side to social media — and it is often misused by people, wittingly or unwittingly..

Ten Harvard students lost their admission to the respected school because of offensive memes they were posting on a group chat page. While most of us might not go that far, there are things we should beware of posting on social media. The wrong meme or tweet could cost us important relationships or tarnish our reputations.

Related Article: YOUR Controversial Social Media Sabotage?

What are five common mistakes people make on social media that can hurt their relationships with others?

1. Airing Your Dirty Laundry For Others To See

If you're having problems with your partner, be respectful and discuss them directly with your partner! If you're venting on social media, it makes things awkward for your friends and gives people lots to gossip about.

2. Posting Anything Negative

People make judgments quickly on social media. I recently saw someone post the following, "Angry AF today." If you're single and people get the feeling you're negative or a Debbie Downer, they're going to think twice before setting you up with their friends.

Related Article: YOUR Career Killing Social Media?

3. Vaguebooking — Posting Something Borderline Hostile That Is Pointed At One Person

For example, "I wish that if someone had something that they wanted me to know, they would tell me to my face instead of behind my back." This makes you look petty and passive-aggressive.

4. Posting Private Or Negative Things About Your Kids

In other words, "too much information" that would embarrass them. I see some parents using Facebook as a zone to talk ALL about their kids (good, bad or intimate), with details their kids probably wouldn't want shared.

Always ask your child if they mind you posting something or a particular photo. Even at their young ages, they will have strong opinions. Respect your kids' privacy and wishes, and you'll preserve their trust for years to come.

5. Tagging Your Friends In Old Photos

I hear people complain about this all of the time. They don't want old high school photos tagged and showing up in people's news feeds. It's embarrassing to some people and they'd rather leave those memories in the yearbook. If you feel the need to post an old photo, ask people's permission before you tag them.

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6. Arguing On Facebook

In today's super-charged political environment, people feel entitled to rant and tear others down in social media posts. It's easy to go back and forth with comments, while the hostility builds rapidly. You are NOT going to change someone's mind by arguing your point. The collateral damage is that you will look like "that" person who is ... Crazy.

7. Posting Photos You'd Be Embarrassed If Your Boss Or Family Saw

In today's world, you are one screen shot away from going viral (and even losing your job). Keep your social media posts "social" — and keep your photos appropriate. If you wouldn't want your mom or boss to see the photos, the world doesn't need to see them either.

Guest Authored By Bela Gandhi. Bela is a Top Dating/Relationship Coach and Social Media Personality. She's the founder and president of Smart Dating Academy. Follow Bela on Twitter.

Related Article: The Top 7 Social Media Mistakes?

Your personal brand is affected by your social media posts, even if the people know you well.

Use it to connect with people, be positive and share inspiration.

Do not use it for dark, negative or downright crazy posts.

Follow these rules, and you should keep your relationships on the up and up, and your reputation crisp and clean!

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  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Protecting YOUR Social Media Privacy?

How to protect your privacy on social media..

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Ordinary consumers have been wilfully ignorant of ceding their personal data to social media, writes Martyn McLaughlin.

Over the past decade, the remarkable growth of social media from an outlet for cat-related memes, blurry holiday snaps and idle chatter to an all-powerful force reshaping the world around us has been driven by a single tacit agreement: we open up our lives to Big Tech, and in return enjoy the expediency and efficiency of its free platforms.

It is an unwritten contract that has prompted more than two billion people to sign up to Facebook and, in turn, allowed its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to become one of the richest men in the world.

The issue of how that extraordinary expansion was fueled has long concerned privacy activists, but the growing scandal surrounding the firm’s dealings with Cambridge Analytica has brought the issue firmly into the mainstream.

Related Article: Avoiding The Social Media Minefield?

It was assumed by most consumers that the price of their apparently benign deal with social media’s guardians was minimal, amounting to little more than targeted advertising; search on Google for a new pair of trousers, and your Facebook feed would be polluted with images of breeks afterwards. Irritating? Yes. Creepy? Undoubtedly. But we thought we understood what the algorithms were designed for, even if the design itself eluded us.

Yet the recent revelations about how the granularity of data, fused with immensely complex data science technologies, can exert a powerful influence not just over our shopping habits, but elections, is a game changer.

The answer for many is to withdraw altogether. Since the weekend, the #deletefacebook campaign has picked up momentum, with increasing numbers of consumers so appalled that they see no merit in trying to bolster their privacy. Some are even availing themselves of the opportunity to download all the information the firms holds about them, a process akin to lifting the plaster on a fresh cut.

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One customer, Dylan McKay, found that between October 2016 and July last year, Facebook collated the metadata of every mobile call he had made, including the time and duration, with similar data held on every text message he sent or received. Another, Emma Kennedy, discovered Facebook had records of every number in her mobile phone, along with a list of every social event she had attended, details of all her friends and their birthdays, and a list of every text she had sent.

There has been a predictable outcry at how the company was able to harvest such intimate details, even though any number of Facebook applications and third-party apps inform users that this information will be gathered. Most people, however, tend not to heed the advisories, and they should be afforded a degree of sympathy.

Such end user license agreements are written in hopelessly convoluted legalese; when you are whiling away a coffee break with a Facebook quiz or game, who wants to read through reams of impenetrable terms and conditions?

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But that excuse only works up to a point. Our shock at the Facebook data misuse is largely borne out of willful ignorance. We have become accustomed to social media’s convenience and ubiquity, and our optimism surrounding new technology has gone hand in hand with an unfettered promiscuity. The bad news is that even if you delete your Facebook account, the data you have consented to share with third-party developers and affiliates will still be retained by them. You can scrub your digital slate, but you can’t wipe it clean.

In any case, social media is, for many of us, a professional necessity first and a personal pleasure second. We can only retreat so far. Instead, all of us should realise that our data is not an owner-less jumble of code floating in the ether; it is our personal property, and we should necessary steps to safeguard it.

In practical terms, this means installing tracker and ad blockers on browsers, and regularly reviewing and updating privacy settings; a dreary chore, for sure, just like filing away bills or cleaning the shower cubicle, but one that cannot be put off indefinitely. Even more importantly, however, is an attitudinal shift, one which acknowledges how the frippery and furniture of Facebook – those innocuous quizzes and games – are ultimately Trojan horses for data-capture mechanisms.

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Reputation Mistakes?

If that all sounds laborious, help is on the horizon. In May, the General Data Protection Regulation, an EU privacy law restricting how personal information is collected and used, comes into force.

Firms and app providers must make explicit, and in succinct, plain language, what data they will scoop up and the purpose for doing so. It also gives consumers the right to see what information companies have gathered.

These measures are welcome, but they are no panacea. As long as the social media industry is able to regulate itself, offering only gestures at transparency, we need to get smarter.

As consumers, we take pride in the fact we make informed choices, whether that is checking reviews of electronics products before parting with our money, or scrutinizing the tariffs of energy firms.

Guest Authored By Martyn McLaughlin. Martyn is Senior Reporter, Columnist and Leader of The Scotsman and Scot on Sunday. Mark also does Investigative Radio & TV Documentaries. Follow Martyn on Twitter.

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"Why should the social media industry remain immune from such vigilance?

We may be Facebook’s product, but we can determine how much of our lives we offer up for sale.." -MartynMcLaughlin

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  Post Crafted By:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Avoiding The Social Media Minefield?

Beware of the social media minefield -- With the click of a button, you can instantly share lasting memories and moments that make your life great.

But with great power, comes great responsibility..

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Social Media Has Defined Our Generation

Remember, as soon as you sign up for a social media account, you essentially become a publisher and as such, you are held accountable for what is said on your accounts – much the same way a newspaper must adhere to a code of conduct.

Here's a quick look at 10 do's and don'ts to make your social media experience safer and, above all, legal.

Do Check Your Privacy Settings Regularly

While social media is all about sharing your life, criminals can use the information you unwittingly share to rob you blind.

Take a look at the privacy settings on your accounts, and make sure you are only sharing your personal information with those you trust.

Related Article: Lessons For YOUR Brand On Social Media?

Do Screen Your Friends And Followers

The internet has provided Grade A creeps with the perfect mask of anonymity – so have a look at whose friend request you are accepting and regularly browse through your "followers" to make sure who they are.

You wouldn't allow a stranger to stand at your window and stare into your house, would you?

Do Post Things You Can Say Out Loud

While you can delete a post at ny time, there are always some eagle-eyed social media users out there who screenshot something they think is defamatory or racist faster than you can say 'wasn't me.'

A simple guideline to follow: If you wouldn't feel comfortable saying what you are about to post to a room full of people, or to the person you are posting about, don't post it.

No one needs to read your racist/sexist remarks anyway. We have enough negativity in our lives.

Related Article: Being Smart On Social Media Refresher?

Ask Penny Sparrow

Do Understand And Respect That Your Opinion Is Just That -- Yours

Never expect that everyone online is going to have the same opinion as you do.

Sure, you are more than welcome to share your opinion, but never get caught up in an argument online just because someone called you out on something they don't agree with.

A comment written in anger can easily come back to haunt you.

Do Make Sure Your Information Is Reliable And In The Public Interest

Be especially careful sharing info if you are not sure where it came from.

The internet is a massively useful tool for gathering and disseminating information, but be warned – some people purposefully post incorrect info to get a reaction.

Related Article: Social Media Footprint Lessons From Harvard?

Most social apps have a "Reporting" option, so if you spot a page sharing malicious stories, report it, so that the lawmen and women of social media can shut it down.

Don't Spread Hate Speech Or Propaganda

The South African press code dictates that news services can only repeat hate speech or propaganda when reporting it is in the public interest.

You are a publisher, and should adhere to the same rules.

The media is never allowed to incite violence, spread propaganda or promote hate speech, and neither are you.

Don't Share Too Much Information

It might seem like a good idea to have your phone number visible, or your email.

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Reputation Mistakes?

It is also tempting to share your every move – for example checking in at your favorite chill spot.

But don't overdo it.

Tech savvy criminals can use this info to steal your identity or even worse – build a timetable of your movements to hijack you or rob your house when they know you are away.

Take care when posting, and make sure you are not giving opportunists a back door key to your life.

Don't Plagiarize

If you share something you did not write, or even a photo or video you did not take, be sure to credit the author.

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Journalists for example make a living sifting through masses of information to give you the legitimate and necessary lowdown.

It's hard work, so always make sure you credit appropriately.

After all, plagiarism is illegal.

Don't Share Unverified Information

A post on social media can reach hundreds, thousands and even millions of people in a very short time.

Posting or sharing false information is a crime, and can be treated as such.

Always check with your local police or newspaper to verify information before posting it. People have been charged criminally for spreading false information, as it can cause mass panic which can lead to the injury or even death of innocent people.

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Don't Forget To Check The Comments

So you shared a political, topical or controversial story that caught your attention.

Your friends and your friends' friends see it and they start commenting, and pretty soon a healthy debate develops.

But there is always at least one person who will drop a comment that is crass, damaging or often equates to slander.

Comments posted on your pages, even if it is by another individual, are your problem.

If you cannot prove in a court of law you showed due care to at least attempt to remove the offending comment, you are liable. In other words, delete the comments you see to be defamatory or rude immediately and drop the friend in question an inbox explaining why.

Guest Authored By Laurie Smith. Laurie is News Editor at Zulu Land Observer. She is also a Mom and fellow Insomniac. Follow Laurie on Twitter.

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"Remember, as soon as you sign up for a social media account, you essentially become a publisher and as such, you are held accountable for what is said on your accounts. Much the same way a newspaper must adhere to a code of conduct." -LaurieSmith

• 

  Post Crafted By:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO  where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

Getting Your Social Media Content Shared?

Your branded social media presences have a lot of potential to drive engagement with relevant audience members, but that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the potential for engagement impact via peer-to-peer social shares..

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There are a few key reasons why making sure people share your content is to your advantage as a marketer.

Prospective customers trust peer shares more than brand shares, with research showing that 92% of consumers trust influencers more than advertisements or celebrity endorsements. What’s more, social media newsfeed algorithms favor posts from people over posts from brands, and fast-rising share counts have been known to trigger Google bots to index items more rapidly.

The reach implications are also huge. The more diverse your sharers are, the more diverse and wider your audience potential is. When you consider that 69% of the American population uses at least some type of social media, there are plenty of people out there to reach.

The more your message is shared, the more opportunities there will be for interested people to see it. Let’s take a look at six of the most powerful tools that can help maximize the peer-to-peer social share rates for your content.

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1. Smarp

Your employees are often your most valuable secret weapon when it comes to building traction with social media. People trust employees twice as much as they do your CEO, a senior executive, or an activist consumer. And, on average, brand messages are shared 24 times more frequently when they're distributed by employees.

An app designed for employee communication and advocacy, Smarp presents users with a familiar-looking social feed interface of branded and otherwise relevant content items that they can easily schedule for posting across their networks.

You can use the app to keep your team up to date with everything that's going on within your company, and make it easier for them share their knowledge, to help build their personal brands and assist with your company’s social selling efforts. Modules for gamified rewards and tracking ROI help marketers to double down on what’s working.

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2. Social Locker

What’s more valuable to your nurture funnel, access to a few people’s inboxes or an army of social media advocates? It might be worth finding out. Social Locker is a WordPress plugin that provides a bit of a spin on the “gated content” concept.

Most website visitors aren't going to be motivated on their own to share your content, so they’ll often ignore social share buttons. Even when people like your content, they may forget to share it, or may not do so simply because they don't know how important it is to you.

Here, instead of asking people to consent to email follow up messages in exchange for accessing a premium resource, you’re asking them to share it. Essentially, this tool makes it easy for you to hide your most valuable content behind a set of social media buttons. Audience members won't see the content until they tweet, share, like or +1 the landing page.

Related Article: YOUR Social And Digital Transformation?

3. Quuu Promote

People who want to position themselves as niche experts can automate the sharing of topic-specific content items with their social circles. Posting curated, relevant, third-party articles are a key activity for aspiring influencers, and Quuu makes it easy for free. But where does all that great content come from?

Here’s the true brilliance of their model. Its sister platform, Quuu Promote, is where anyone can open an account and submit a URL for paid promotion. Once human quality control moderators approve your item, it’ll be added to the pool of suggested topic-specific posts for other users to approve and dispatch over the course of two months.

Items on rotation in this tool generally see several hundred shares and clickthroughs (CTR), and the platform’s new monthly subscription plans make it easy to justify posting regularly.

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Sales Targets?

4. Blog Pros

Another paid content amplification platform, Blog Pros connects your posts to real people across social media to increase the number of shares your content receives. This system checks your blog RSS feed for new content, and when it finds the new content, your post is assigned to people for promotion. No submission necessary – just new people sharing your latest items with their interested followers, within 12 hours of it going live.

When people share your content with their audience, you're not only getting more traffic to your website, but you're also getting a chance to earn new fans and followers. Let's say Jane finds your content, and she loves it so much she decides to look at some of your other pieces. She decides she wants to be kept updated when you have new posts, so she subscribes to your email alerts and likes your Facebook Page. She shares your content, and some of her friends find the same value.

Moving forward, these engaged advocates may interact with you and share content for you, without needing to be connected through Blog Pros.

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5. Triberr

Content shares can be a type of currency in the social media influence game, which is what makes Triberr such an effective content discovery and amplification platform. Here is where people can connect with one another based on their levels of influence in specific niches, building out “tribes” of like-minded peers who share each other’s published assets.

When you join for free, this tool gives you the option of auto-importing your blog posts, to make it easier for you to share the content with people in your tribes.

You can search for existing tribes, or build your own, based on your interests – so you can find people who are interested in the content you're sharing. Share content from tribe members, and they'll do the same for you. Actively participating in tribes can help you build relationships and connections, which can help you with far more than building your social shares.

Related Article: Your Social Media Share Strategy?

6. Flipboard

Flipboard is best known as a mobile news reader app that offers a beautiful content consumption experience. But it’s also a great social media content distribution channel, especially since the company started aggressively rolling out new features about two years ago. It now gives you a better way to organize your content, and allows you to highlight content you've already shared on social to keep it fresh for people who may have missed the original posting.

It’s also easier than ever to build out and automate the refreshment of themed “magazines,” any publisher can join as a content source for readers and magazine curators to subscribe to, and the relatively recently re-launched web app is now a full-featured platform. You can connect any RSS feed and a variety of social networks – including Google+, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, SoundCloud, Flickr and Tumblr – to aggregate content from there into your brand’s Flipboard magazine.

Whereas most social platforms are all about peer network-based content discovery, on Flipboard, it’s all about the topics, which means that as long as your content is relevant and engaging, it’ll be easily found. Follow and share buttons are all over the place in the super clean interface, and content providers are feeling the impact, with some seeing more mobile traffic referred from Flipboard than even LinkedIn and Pinterest.

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Real People for Real Results

Using any combination of these platforms will help you promote your content across social media.

Sure, you can always ask your friends and family to share your content, but when you have the same people sharing it all the time, it doesn't necessarily yield the diverse, growing reach you need.

The more your content gets shared, the greater the chance for increased engagement. And increased engagement tells the social media newsfeed algorithms more of your fans and followers need to see your content in their feeds – which helps build more organic reach.

Guest Authored By Hurera Sheikh. Hurera is a Copywriter and Sales Strategist at Webee Inc, and Contributor at Huffington Post. Follow Hurera on Twitter.

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“The more your content gets shared, the greater the chance for increased engagement.

And increased engagement tells the social media newsfeed algorithms more of your fans and followers need to see your content in their feeds – which helps build more organic reach.."

• 

  Authored by:

  Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)