Seventy-three percent of Americans have a social media profile. If you aren’t posting to social media, your communication methods might be as outmoded as a rotary dial telephone. Obviously, social media offers instant access to people who might be looking for the very thing you have to offer.

Social media also builds valuable relationships. A post is a friendly nod, smile, or handshake to customers, colleagues, or staff. Today, a well written social media post can accomplish in seconds what might have taken hours or days to accomplish decades ago.

But, it’s said that there are over 30 billion messages posted every day. How will yours reach the mind and heart of your intended receiver? Here are 10 things to ask before you post your social media message:

  1. IS IT BENEFICIAL? What unique solution do you offer your recipient?
  1. DOES IT LOOK TOO MUCH LIKE SPAM? Speak to persons not “target groups.”
  1. HAS IT BEEN DOUBLE-CHECKED FOR ACCURACY, GRAMMAR, AND SPELLING? Typos typecast.
  1. IF FORWARDED, IS IT FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE? Your reputation often rides on the shoulders of another.
  1. DOES IT CRITICIZE ANOTHER COLLEAGUE OR ORGANIZATION? Delete rather than denigrate.
  1. DOES IT INCLUDE A PERSONAL GREETING? Build a friendship bridge with words.
  1. DOES IT PROMPT INTERACTION AND RESPONSE? Sometimes a question beats an answer.
  1. DOES IT GIVE CREDIBILITY TO YOUR ORGANIZATION? Locations change, image lasts forever.
  1. DOES IT BRING ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE RECIPIENT? Will they be glad you wrote?
  1. IS IT CONCISE RATHER THAN WORDY? Remember THAT message you didn’t have time to read?

Whatever medium you use, make sure it’s well done!

StanAToler