Last week, I shared how to open up a little and get personal on social media. But what happens when you take it too far? What happens when you’ve crossed the line and shared too much? It’s easy to get carried away and use social media to spread negativity or to complain. But as business owners, we need to be careful on what we are actually using social media for. For today’s Tell-All Tuesday, we’re digging deep and sharing what NOT to do on social media and what to do instead. Because just because you CAN, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

Don’t Sell, Sell, Sell
On our business pages and Instagram posts, we sometimes think we need to “sell ourselves” over and over again to get new clients. “Check out this post.” “Book me today for your session.” They already know you own a business, they want to get to know YOU.

Instead – Share About YOU – Just like in last week’s post, use your social media as a platform to share about yourself with your potential clients and build your connections.

Let them into your life a little. Like with this post, I shared my love for avocado toast (I know, I’m a millennial.) People thought it was so funny and STILL comment on it in real life! You don’t have to do much, just share and be genuine!

Don’t Bash Others
It’s so easy to point out others’ mistakes. It’s easy to hide behind your computer and lash out at others. But don’t! First, it’s not a very nice thing to do. Second, by spreading negativity people associated with that person you’re bashing now no longer like you. Yes, you could be in the right but the people on the internet don’t know that and it usually always turns into one big mess.

Instead – Celebrate Others – Maybe they did you wrong. Maybe they are bashing YOU. It doesn’t matter. Be the bigger person and wish them good fortune.

Don’t Lose Your Temper
We’ve all seen those long comment threads where something got out of hand and now it feels like the entire world has an opinion on that post. Or maybe your friend is copying your exact post or social media campaign that you worked so hard on creating. The first reaction is to get angry and fire back. But I’m telling you to stop. NEVER post out of extreme emotions. Anger, depression, anxiety – breathe, take your time, and don’t retaliate.

Instead – Keep Your Cool – If you feel that you must respond, write a well-thought out post and make sure you’ve taken some time for your emotions to settle before you decide to hit the publish button.

Don’t Spread Negativity
The world is already full of negative people, why add to it? I believe in sharing to spread joy and love. Before I ever post something I think, “will this inspire, educate, or help my followers?” I don’t post because I’m having a bad day. Think about how you can use your social media to actually help people. This also goes for sharing difficult struggles or trying times. I’m all for letting the world in on my life, even the difficult times. But I never post anything just for the sake of being negative. I always use my struggles to encourage others, shine a light on a subject, or help people not feel alone if they are struggling with the same thing. Turn the negative into a positive.

Instead – Share Positivity – Leave the drama for your mama! Just like I mentioned above – post to spread joy, love, and positivity. Be the light in this world.

Like in this post, I’m sharing my struggles with never saying “no” and working myself into a frenzy. I talk about how I had to pull myself out of that and offer creatives a way out so they don’t have to go through that either. I’m using a negative time in my life to let others know they are not alone and to offer help. Read the full post HERE.

Don’t Complain
Ooo, this is the toughest one! We complain to our friends and family so readily that when we see that blinking cursor taunting us on the screen, we know how easy it would be to use it to complain to ALL of our followers. Resist the urge!

Instead – Brainstorm Ways to Make a Situation Better – Instead of taking to the internet to air out your grievances, why don’t you actually spend a little time on figuring out how to make the situation better? Be a part of the solution, not the problem!

Don’t Be Inconsistent
Posting once then disappearing for weeks or months is never a good sign. It confuses your followers and they start to question if your business is even open. It’s also confusing when you switch up HOW you post. Are you sharing bright, airy images then switch back to moody? Are you sharing copy that reads like a well-written novel then switch to speaking casually? Stick with one so you don’t confuse your followers.

Instead – Be Consistent – In when you post and how you post, be consistent. Let your followers know they can count on you!

Don’t Be Disingenuous
We talked about this last week but it bares repeating. It’s SO easy to jump on someone else’s “authenticity” bandwagon. People see another person’s success and try to take the easy way out and just copy what they did. But it’s not their story! You need to dig deep and share your own story, your true self.

Be Genuine – Share YOUR unique story. Every other story is already taken.

Bonus: To share or not to share your political views on social media
This is tricky. Everyone has a different opinion on this and all I can do is share my opinion. To me, there is no right or wrong answer, you just have to way your consequences. Most articles and blog posts I’ve read say never to share your political views. They say “stay neutral to not scare off potential clients.” I think that’s absolutely fine but for me personally, I believe that if you have a voice in the community you should share it. But I also believe in only sharing positive things that I think will help make the world a better place. Though I may post about candidates I voted for or causes I believe in, I’ll never bash the other side. I believe in using my voice for good. But even though my intentions are good, there will still be half the population that doesn’t agree with me. To me, I’m ok with sharing that because I’d rather be true and honest and kind then not say anything at all.