Maintaining integrity when posting on social media

Did you know that sharing or posting content on your personal profile can impact your professional reputation? Content and posts that may seem innocuous to you may cause offence to others, and given people are more vocal on social media, you might find your business becoming a victim of cancel culture. Even if your profile has appropriate privacy settings, a screenshot taken by someone could easily be used against you to cause reputational damage. The easiest way to avoid this is to follow this simple rule: If you wouldn’t share it on your professional/business profile, don’t share it on your personal profile.

Difficult client stories

No matter what your profession, you probably deal with your fair share of difficult (or interesting) clients. Recently trending formats on social media platforms might make you want to jump on the trend and share stories of these interesting clients. However, this could land you in hot water if you’re not careful in anonymising enough details about the client. After all, the last thing you’d want is to go viral for all the wrong reasons and end up with a lawsuit or fine from a regulator.

Unrealistic offers or claims

When using social media to promote your business, or any offers, remember to make sure your advertising adheres to appropriate laws and regulations. Making unrealistic claims in your advertising, regardless of channel, can lead to your business being fined or being liable for misleading conduct. The same applies if you’re advertising offers and promotions, for example, calling an offer or price that is always available a ‘special offer’ in your advertising, can lead to fines, lawsuits, or reputational damage.

Negative client reviews

Have you received a negative review from a client you feel is unfair? Avoid the temptation to clarify the situation by replying or responding negatively. Your response might unintentionally breach confidentiality and reveal too much information about a client, which could escalate the situation further. A safer approach could be to always invite them to send you a message, and try to resolve the matter offline, privately.

Commenting and following

When posting and sharing content on social media including posting or commenting in groups, commenting on public posts, and even making your interests public, it’s important to bear in mind the risk associated with those activities. These activities can be seen by the public and can influence their opinion of your business. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to trigger an angry response from the public.