Facebook is a fantastic tool for social networking and marketing, but, if you have been reading the news lately, if don’t use it wisely it can be costly – in particular losing your job. Just recently a Massachusetts school teacher lost her job over comments she posted to her Facebook wall. Here are some other headlines:
“Florida teachers warned not to ‘friend’ students online”
“Yes, Virginia, HR Execs Check Your Facebook Page”
“Job candidates getting tripped up by Facebook
Many students learn the hard way that online image can limit opportunity”
“45% of Employers Now Screen Social Media Profiles”
So here are some of my “do’s and dont’s” and other simple tips to help keep you out of trouble.
- DO check your privacy settings. I suggest selecting only friends to view comments, videos, or pictures that you post. If Facebook comes out with a new widget or gizmo check you privacy settings. Usually Facebook doesn’t ask you to opt in, they do it automatically and won’t tell you.
- DO be selective in the friendships you make. Don’t be in the business of building the largest friends list it might just hurt you in the long run.
- DON’T play the games and all the other periphery that Facebook offers but if you must, opt out of having game updates posted to your wall. Check under application settings. My suggestion is to treat Facebook as a tool for your business and avoid the gaming. You should be networking and participating in groups and marketing your business.
- DO be careful with what you share on Facebook. If you have a gripe or concern with people you work with or for, don’t post it to your Facebook wall to vent. In the same vain, check your settings on images, and videos you post.
- DO set your tagging privacy rights so that anyone who tags you in a photo can only be seen by you.
- DO set up a fan page and DO become a “fan” of other businesses so that you can network. I’ve talked about this before. Setting up a fan page is a quick and easy and free way to promote your business. A fan page should be engaging – start a discussion, post some images and videos. Promote your fan page on your business web site and other social media sites like Twitter.
Do you have any do’s and don’ts? Please share in the comments below. Happy Facebooking!
