Guard Your Social Media Reputation

by Molly Jo Realy @RealMoJo68

We all love to blow off steam and when Friday rolls around, most of us are counting the seconds til closing hour. Then, bliss! Over sixty hours to spend however we want.

The thing is, with the instant publicity on social media, what you post on a Saturday or Sunday can greatly affect how people look at you the entire week.

Social media is a great tool for staying connected, offering your Swarm a nice token like a discount or free giveaway, and sharing glimpses of your personal life. But, how personal is too personal?

As a business-to-business tool used to enhance your readership, client base, or following of any kind, keep in mind that is your ultimate goal. I have seen many careers stall and stagnate because the person shared more photos of their, shall we say, fun weekend, than writing adventures.

[Note to self: Remember that your definition of “fun” is not the same as someone else’s definition.]

I’m not saying y’all should only post from behind a brick wall or wooden fence. No, you need to let your viewers catch more of you than your Mr. Wilson hat. But please, oh, please, let’s not go crazy and let them catch, well, too much of you.

It’s easy to share in the fun of tweeting comments or sharing photos, but too often I see well-intentioned people switch from Dr. Jekyl to Mr. Hyde when the weekend comes around. I see photos of liquor bottles, crass jokes, or just an all-around bad attitude.

Think of social media as your fence line. You let people see into your yard, or you don’t. Some yards are walled off while others are open. Some are lovely to look at, because the owners take pride in pruning back the weeds and keeping away the trash. Others can’t be bothered with maintenance and let all who pass see everything. Now folks, you know I love being on the media, but even I don’t share everything openly. There comes a time when you need to go inside your house and close the door.

If you feel the need to vent, then please do so with those you trust, in a private chat. But don’t put yourself out there for any-and-everyone to get a glimpse of what they shouldn’t.

I like to think of my social media fence line as a chain link fence with a few strategically placed bushes. You can see past some of it if I trim the hedges, but mostly I just want you to enjoy the roses.

With some sweet tea and a (sometimes) open gate,

~ Happy writing. 

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Guard your #socialmedia reputation - @RealMoJo68 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Molly Jo is a writer, editor, social media ninja, and producer of the weekly Firsts in Fiction podcast. She has been featured in children’s magazines, on blogs and devotional websites, and her short stories have earned her awards and scholarships from nationally acclaimed writing programs. She is the founder of New Inklings Press and author of The Unemployment Cookbook: Ideas for Feeding Families One Meal at a Time, and other books available through her website and on Amazon.

Her current work in progress, NOLA, is a location mystery set in New Orleans and is scheduled for publication in late 2017.

You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and her blog, Frankly, My Dear . . .