A Few Do's and Don'ts for Social Networking

A small business owner asked me the other day if there is a way that she can post the same message on her Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts at the same time. I told her yes, but cautioned that each has a different purpose and audience.

LinkedIn is not a place to share what you had for lunch. It is peer to peer and is a great way to network on a professional level. It's a place for your suit and tie, heels and business card. Pretend you're at a chamber function.

Facebook allows you to blend professional and personal together. It's okay to tell your real-life client, via Facebook, that you're cooking out with friends and trying a new recipe. That's called building relationships and tearing down a 9 to 5 wall. Pretend you're at a bar and you're striking up conversation. That's what Facebook is all about.

Twitter is well-named. Here, pretend you're at a cocktail party - twitting around from person to person. You have only a few seconds - or characters - to introduce yourself or comment about a particular topic.

Throughout there are do's and don'ts.

MARKETING TIP: Learn the protocol of social networking. Target your message to your audience.