Have you ever heard of netiquette? In Internet language, this term refers to the set of “good manners” guidelines that we should follow when using the web. The underlying principle of netiquette is the same one that governs civilized living: avoid being rude or disrespectful when interacting with others. In today’s world – where the use of the web, and especially social networks, has spread widely, along with dangerous phenomena like cyberbullying, fake profiles, and haters – this principle is more important than ever. It’s something that everyone, both individuals and companies, should always keep in mind.

If you think about it, the key to understanding why we need to know and follow netiquette is to imagine the Internet as a physical place. Consider yourself, especially if you’re an entrepreneur who wants to be well-liked by others: would you enter a public venue where you’ve never been before (and whose customs you don’t know) by kicking the door open, screaming at the top of your lungs, and putting your feet on the table as you sit down? Of course not! The same curious and respectful approach you’d adopt in a real place should also be applied when browsing the web and accessing any social network.

The first tip, especially crucial on social media, is to observe for a while what the people who have been there longer than you do. By reading their posts, watching how they interact, and analyzing the content they share, you learn what to post, as well as where and when to post it.

Obviously, each social network has its own specific form of netiquette that must be understood on a case-by-case basis. On Facebook, for example, many page owners create their own behavioral guidelines that followers must adhere to or risk being blocked and losing the ability to access that page.

In any event, there are some basic rules that are easy to identify and follow. Here they are:

• Don’t “shout”: avoid typing entirely in capital letters or bold, as this can be perceived as aggressive. If you want to highlight something, put it between asterisks instead;  
• Don’t act like a know-it-all and be respectful: avoid swear words and insults. Thank (within reason) those who leave comments or share your content, and don’t publicly correct others. If you feel you can be helpful, contact the person privately and kindly point out the error;  
• Don’t use material that isn’t yours (texts or images), and if you share a resource, mention the source;  
• Don’t comment on competitors’ posts by adding your own links, aiming to be “carried along” by their content. This behavior is frowned upon and seen as “unfair;”  
• Use hashtags without overdoing it, to avoid causing confusion;  
• Don’t randomly add anyone to your network or accept any request to simply “boost your numbers.” Especially if you’re a business, your presence on social media should attract and gather people genuinely interested in you and what you do, so that it can truly bear fruit;
• don’t use a personal Facebook profile to advertise your business: it’s inappropriate and even less effective.

Oscar Giacomin  / General Manager, Facto Edizioni

© All rights reserved