“To post or not to post? That is the question.”

We are big fans of English literature here at Schmooz and it is becoming more and more common to see and hear about people and companies being the authors of their own misfortune. Yesterday, Schmooz posted a link to an article on our Facebook page, entitled “Teenagers Really Need to Stop Posting Their Paychecks On Instagram.” The article describes the problems of identity theft and bank fraud as a result of pictures of teens’ paycheques posted on Instagram. I found it fascinating, scary, and empowering. Lately, it seems like there have been many painful lessons learned from stories exposing society’s inexperience with social media and the negative effects that might follow. From people getting fired because of inappropriate online posts to companies losing customers due to posts of poor taste or ones posted at inappropriate times, we are all feeling the importance of re-evaluating how we approach our social media.

Here at Schmooz, we think that one important thing to keep in mind is the balance between sharing content online and respecting the boundaries for what should and should not be shared. We appreciate how vital it is to connect with new and loyal customers in a fun and genuine way (it’s our business), and we appreciate the importance of maintaining the level of professionalism and respect that are essential to a company’s success. Do not confuse the casual, informal posting on a personal account with the type of posting that should be present on a business or company account. For that matter, don’t forget that the casual, informal postings are a part of your personal branding and your digital footprint.

When it comes to posts, links, and images, us Schmoozers do not believe in posting content in a rushed manner. Take the time to consider what message you are trying to send to the public about your company and why it is important to share that particular message. And if you are sharing links or photos from other websites on your site, be sure to read the entire page so that there are no unwelcome surprises after you have posted the content. Sharing content is important, getting likes is important, but it also needs to be strategic and organized. I have found that setting my own boundaries for my company, with an understanding of how fast I want to grow has helped me keep my expectations in check for Facebook and Twitter. It is not a race.

Thanks for checking in,

Zoe Share, Chief Executive Schmoozer