By Ashley Wymer | @ashleywymer Behind the safety of computer monitors and touchscreens, it’s relatively easy to forget that there’s a living, breathing human being on the other end. Often times, we say things that we would never dare to say to somebody directly, and broadcast things that should probably be kept private. This kind of behavior results, inevitably, in embarrassment and a failure to get a valuable message to those in your social circle. Be it Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google +, the opportunity to offend a potential client is always creeping on the keyboard. So perk up your profiles and take heed to the most common offenses in the social media world.

Spamming your readers’ feed 

Chances are, you’ve logged on to your Facebook or Twitter, just trying to catch up on the news in your world, only to be stifled by the amount of  posts a friend or page is cranking out. It seems like every few minutes they have something new to say. You scroll. And scroll. And scroll some more. They’ve been at it all day, and you are sick of seeing their profile picture clogging your screen, and delete them from your feed. Don’t end up deleted or hidden because you can’t keep your hand off the “post” button for more than two minutes. Learn to space out your posts with content that actually matters and your clients will thank you for it.

Unnecessary Tagging

Tagging people in pictures, places or posts that they have nothing to do with is just asking to be deleted. People do not want to be thrown into posts, just like they don’t like being put on the spot in reality. Chances are, you would never go up to somebody on the street and ask them to say something about your outfit, rave about your latest adventure or laugh at your mediocre joke. Tagging does just that. This action puts a burden on the tagged, making them feel as if they have to say something (anything) to be polite and acknowledge the other end. But it’s your job to be courteous and use tagging sparsely, not theirs to un-tag themselves from useless information.

Insulting Your Readers

This one may seem obvious, but it’s really shocking how many people don’t consider others’ feelings when posting on their social media accounts. Social media gives us the amazing power to share our thoughts with a whole network of people at the touch of a button, but it also forces us to recognize that we must be responsible in our posts, and keep in mind who will see them. With hundreds, even thousands, of people reading the same message,  it’s easy to overlook that some might not appreciate what you have to say. They will become offended, and yes, delete you from their virtual lives. The last thing you want to do is alienate your audience; the entire purpose of social media is taking advantage of the giant pool of opportunity that the internet presents to you. Don’t be the kid that pees in the shallow end.

With social media etiquette, it all boils down to remembering that on the other side of your screen, there are thousands of real, living people reading what you have to say. So say something worth their time. Be thoughtful and considerate, just like your mama taught you to be.