The internet “is” society, but because folks use it to communicate without actual physical interaction, good manners are sometimes thrown out the window. Here are tips to put your best digital foot forward.
Consider Your Keystrokes
All words and photos posted online live forever. It can be appealing to create a bold online persona for a personal account, but it’s best to just be yourself. Use the mom or grandma test before posting anything: If you wouldn’t want either one of them to see it, don’t post it. Never make any disrespectful online comments about coworkers, bosses, or former romantic partners—even if they are true—and don’t reveal anything shared in confidence.Show Respect
It’s easy and fun to send or respond to positive comments on social media or work-related accounts, but when tempted to post or respond to negative comments, follow the adage of “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.” There’s nothing to be gained by being rude, clever, or antagonistic when making a comment or responding to one. You won’t change anyone’s mind, but you may be painting an image of yourself as pompous or ill-mannered.Work Versus Play
Unless you’re Elon Musk, don’t post your personal photos or opinions on a work-related account. It’s reasonable to assume 50 percent of all those who see your posts will disagree with them, so don’t risk inadvertently losing existing or potential business customers. It’s best to not post too much personal information on a personal account, because it could be used by password hackers or criminals seeking unoccupied homes, who now know you’re away on vacation.Use Spell Check
Any time you are sending personal or business messages via email, text, social media pages, or messaging apps, stop before sending to take the time to review spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Atrocious spelling, the misuse of apostrophes, slang terms, and other gaffes are sadly very common and can provide a less-than-flattering impression of you or of your business to those with whom you are communicating. Slow down to make sure all is well before you hit the Enter key.Consider Your Audience
Emoticons are OK for personal messages to friends but should be avoided in business communications. On a similar note, friends might enjoy your sense of humor, but others might be offended by something typed in jest. Political, social, and religious topics can be minefields, so be careful about sharing your opinions or leanings. When writing for the general public, do so at a 4th-grade reading level to ensure everyone who reads it can easily comprehend it.
