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

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

Paul tinkles the ivories with the Beatles 'Let it Be' Artists Inspire Artists I was at my brother's piano recital yesterday and had a very interesting conversation with his 92 year old piano teacher and one of her students. The student, who was an artist and had only started learning to play the piano, was talking about how she used sound to teach painting. A long stroke was a 'shoosh' and making short, staccato brush movements went 'bup, bup, bup'. I smiled and thought about how all creative types overlapped, embracing all elements of culture to enrich one's specific area of skill and passion. A sculptor or painter often creates to music and, as a writer, I definitely pull from my cultural experiences, whether it's a symphony or an art gallery, to help formulate descriptions of feelings and senses to lay out on a printed page. Nature Inspires Creative types see the world around them just a bit differently, which leads to the creation ...

Guest Blog - Mari Barnes, Author of My Peace Place

I'm very pleased to host Mari Barnes today as part of her virtual book tour for her book, My Peace Place. Mari is participating in D'Vorah Lansky's Book Marketing Boot Camp , which is where we 'met'. Take it away Mari! Eye on the Why I read this recent post from a discouraged new author: My friends don't seem very excited about my new book. Does no one read anymore? I've sold 4 whole copies so far. That did more than ring a bell—it set a gong clanging in my mind. I remember those days too well. Some friends and family weren’t even reading gift copies of my book, much less actually spending money to support me. It created a hollow feeling unlike anything I can adequately describe but despair, disappointment and betrayal all come close. How could they not understand how important this is to me? Haven’t I bought every Girl Scout cookie--supported every sport, church and school fundraiser? When little Cindy Lou was selling crocheted key rings, who boug...

Writing Process? What Writing Process?

Ah, the ever elusive 'writing process'. I've been a writer for years but as an author I’m a fairly new having published my first book in 2011 and two more since. Over the past three years I’ve been happily writing away, working towards my dreams of being a famous novelist, and feel pretty good about a strong ‘author voice’ that seems to be developing. The more you write the closer you get to finding the voice that’s uniquely yours, pulling bits and pieces from those you admire and drawing from your own experiences and mental meanderings. I think the same goes for landing on a writing process that works for you. However, I’m having a slightly more difficult time nailing that down. I read a blog a while ago that talked about famous writers’ writing processes. I found it fascinating as I struggle to find one that works for me day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year. I did a search to see if I could find that particular blog again so I could at least giv...

Writing...Just because!

Search This Blog