Social Media and Your Personal Opinion…

I will start out by saying that some people will not like this post. So consider yourself to be warned.

But I feel this is something that has to be said.

People need to think before they post on ANY social networking site.

Before you hit that update status button, you need to stop and read what you are about to post. You need to consider what your posting and how it will affect the world around you. How it might be taken and WHO might be seeing it.

Then if you have done all of that and you still see no issues, go ahead and post away.

However…

if you use that same social networking site to promote your business you will want to look one more time and REALLY think about it before you post some of your thoughts.

Consider the groups or the activities that you “like” and take a deep breath before you share that thought with the world.

I am all for being yourself. I am all for standing up for what you believe in and freedom of speech. I am all for being passionate about your causes and your feelings.

But I am also for respect. Respect of my fellow humans. Respect for the other people round me that I may be offending with my thoughtless comments. Respect for their families and their children that might see my comments and my thoughts and be hurt by my lack of respect for their loved one.

Almost weekly I hear people talk about how silly some social networking sites are and how they see them as a waste of time. Usually the statement “I don’t care if someone had peanut butter and jelly for lunch” is thrown around. everyone laughs and agrees. Those of us that are very active on social networking sites assure these people that you learn to tune some of that stuff out.

But that does not mean we do not see it. If you are joining groups about killing people or voicing things about how no one would care if someone were assassinated, people are going to notice. And they are going to form an opinion of you.

If you are using social networking to promote your business then unfortunately that opinion of you will also now be linked with your business.

If you are constantly posting negative comments about your kids, spouse, ex, life etc but them 30 minutes later post some motivational quote, you will not be believed.

Or how about the poll that circulates every so often about what sexual position you like best that then posts to your profile.

Maybe think about it before you make a rude comment about someone that implies they are an idiot because they are a certain religion. I have news for you, religion doesn’t make someone an idiot…being an idiot is not specific to one religion or one nationality for that matter.

Again I say you are welcome to your opinion. And you are welcome to voice it when and where you wish to. Those are the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation we call home (The United States of America). But….

A good rule of thumb that I like to go by is this…

If I was standing at the front of a room with a podium and a microphone and my 500+ Facebook friends live in the room with me (These people include my real live friends, my real live family, my business customers, my potential business customers and people I have never met before) and they were all quietly waiting for me to say what I had to say….would I say THAT? Would I read them the article I am linking to? Would I tell them the group I just joined? Would I tell them I agreed with the cause that I just “liked”?

If the answer is yes, then I post it. In a heartbeat.

If the answer is no then…..

Photo By Svilen Milev

About The Author:
Cindy Clemens is a mom, author, speaker, marketing consultant and Co-Founder of Your Marketing University. Her goal is to teach marketing in a simple easy to understand format that businesses can use to help gain marketing ideas & market their businesses to boost sales.

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