Social Media Tagging Etiquette

Have you ever been randomly tagged by someone on social media and had to rush to remove the tag because they didn’t understand proper social media tagging etiquette?

This has happened to me so many times that most of my social media profiles have been updated so that I have to approve tags before a post shows up on my feed. 

When you tag someone, your content shows up on their feed. This means, you better tag them the right way.

Tag etiquette is a real thing. 

If you don’t use this etiquette the right way, instead of landing leads and garnering the positive attention you’re seeking, you’ll wind up turning people completely off of you and your content.

Tagging is a great way to show up in people’s notifications and to encourage engagement but if you don’t tag with tact, it can also create the wrong impression. 

How do you tag the right way so you can get noticed and make a positive impression? Keep reading.

There are a few rules you can follow when it comes to tagging so that people are happy to view their notification, instead of annoyed. 

Before we get into my three rules, the most important takeaway is to make sure there is a good reason to mention the person you are tagging.

• Rule Number One: If you’re using a photo in your social media post (and the photo is a good one) and the person is in the actual photo, go ahead and tag them.
• Rule Number Two: If you’re sharing someone else’s content, it’s a great idea to tag them to let them know you’re sharing something they posted. This always makes people feel good, and it gives them the credit they deserve. (You can do this with personal and business accounts).
• Rule Number Three: If you’re sharing something of value that you think they will enjoy, and benefit from, tag them. However, be sure to add context as to why you’re tagging them, and be mindful that you’re not just mining for leads and reposts – especially when you tag business pages.

Context is really important when it comes to tagging so you don’t come across as a nuisance.  

When you post something on social media and randomly tag 10-100 people (the max number of tags), it’s likely tag spam and not a good use of tagging (or your time). It screams that you’re just trying to get their attention, and it’s ineffective.

However, if you shared an album from an event and tagged all the people who were there, and then said something about the event and the fact that you were thinking about them or missing them etc, then it can be a good thing.

The same is true when you share an article. Add context to say, “Cassy, Rishi, and Sandra, I think you might like this.” Then, the person who is tagged feels like you’re mentioning them for a reason that benefits them.

Do you see the difference?

When you tag someone because you want to be seen, instead of tagging someone to provide them with value, it’s bad etiquette. Don’t be that person.

How have you seen others abuse the tagging function online, and what have you done about it?