When Posting on Social Media - Double Check... and then Double Check Again

When I'm working on my social media, and especially with that of clients, I always pause, re-read, and pause again before hitting 'post' or 'share'. Then I double check any shortened links just to make sure (even after testing pre-post) that it goes to the right page.

Photo from freedigitalphotos.net by Michal Marcol

The importance of that habit hit home HARD yesterday and I'm still thanking the good Lord that I checked a link immediately after tweeting it. You see, I had made a derogatory comment about people who use Hyperbole. It was in reaction to a blog I had just read by Seth Godin. I included a link to a little animated video I created a while back called 'Going Hyperbolic'. Imagine my horror when I tested the link and it went to one of my client's YouTube videos! Because of the process I always follow when posting, I was able to immediately delete it before any eyes beheld my gaff.

Whew!

I know, I know... we've all got sooo much on our plates that we're often thinking about the next task on the list instead of the task at hand. No time to check and double check! But, allowing yourself to be distracted will inevitably lead to mistakes. And, once they're out in the social sphere, they're hard to undo.

Here's an acronym I've created to remind myself not to get trapped in an unintentional social gaff:

T - ype
R - ead
A - bsorb
P- lan
P - ause
E - evaluate (check link)
D - eploy

... and check again! I'm sure glad I did!

Comments

L. Diane Wolfe said…

Sometimes Blogger will add to a link address, which means it won't work. Always double check the html code, too.

15 July 2013 at 02:22

Anne Louise O'Connell said…

Thanks Diane! Good advice :)

15 July 2013 at 03:27

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