It’s not enough to have a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest: Understanding the intricacies of each social media platform can be difficult, but it’s important to know that content appropriate for Facebook might not work as well for Twitter or Instagram.
Etiquette tips for a handful of social media platforms from SmartBlog
Facebook
Facebook used to be hashtag-free (that was always more of a Twitter thing), but now it allows users to hashtag happily. Don’t go crazy with the pound key (#): SmartBlog suggests that one hashtag per post is appropriate for Facebook.
Try to avoid over-selling your brand by sticking to the 80/20 rule (entertain and inform your audience 80 percent of the time, sell to them 20 percent of the time), and make sure you engage regularly with Facebook fans or friends by responding to their questions and comments.
Avoid spamming other users by posting on their pages and asking them to like your own page, and don’t over-post: Wait at least a few hours between posts.
Twitter
Twitter can be frustrating because of its 140-character limit, but don’t let that stand in the way of utilizing the platform effectively. On Twitter, use hashtags more freely than you on Facebook, but don’t overdo it. A few key hashtags in each tweet can help reach a wider audience.
Although it might be difficult to stay under 140 characters, try to keep tweets short and sweet so that other people can retweet and respond. If you have a logo for your business, use it as your Twitter avatar so that people can associate the logo with your brand. And, just like on Facebook, make sure you’re engaging with your followers by responding to tweets and participating in conversations.
Google+
Google+, which allows users to share content with friends, family, acquaintances and co-workers in their “circles,” can be a useful tool for sharing important updates about a business. Did someone write a nice article about your company? Share it via Google+! Read something interesting about your industry? Share the article with the people in your circles, but make sure to add your own commentary to the post, too.
And always give a “hat tip” to the original source of the post. Mention other people when you share posts to maximize engagement.
Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn all have their sets of etiquette, too.
Source: “How to Mind Your Manners on Social Media,” SmartBlog (Sept. 12, 2014)