So you're thinking about joining a community board on Pinterest. The pins are great and it's a board theme you are totally into. You glance through it- not too many duplicates and you can already think of pins from your boards that would be terrific additions. You ask to join and are welcomed in. Now what?
Well, first off, go through the entire board if you haven't already. Try to notice what's already on there so you don't post duplicates. Nothing drags a board down quicker than seeing the same pins over and over again. Yes, even if you think your caption is better, resist repining.
Notice the tone of the pins. Is it a humor board? Are the pins primarily rated G or NC-17? Strictly one thing? If you ask to join a board you are telling the person that made that board that you wish to contribute within the parameters and topic they have set up. Stick with that. The board "owner" has the power to kick you off if you stray, but even if they choose not to, pinning off topic or inappropriate pins is rude to every other contributor and follower of that board. Don't do it.
Try to add pins that are linked to their creator or original site. Make sure the pin is not linked to a spam website. If necessary, change the caption to fit the pin. If you're not sure the pin fits the board, use the caption to state why it might. Pins should be of great quality- clear photos, proper spelling and punctuation, working links.
Part of the fun of community boards is that you're able to interact with each other. Leave (appropriate) comments. Like and repin freely. When someone comments on a pin you've added, it can start a great conversation when you reply back.
Lastly, feel free to leave if the board doesn't live up to your expectations. It only takes one discourteous pinner to change the atmosphere of a board. You don't have to stick around. You can start your own community board!
Hope this helps. There are so many social media outlets and the "rules" are often unspoken and vary greatly from site to site. Best rule of thumb though- treat others how you want to be treated!
Congrats, how fun, you've decided to join a new online group! You have similar interests, you're networking, you're learning new things- the internet is amazing and full of new friends. Maybe the last group didn't work out so well or you've never joined a group before. Here are some tips for being a polite and considerate group member while you're jumping in.
1. Look before you speak. Scroll through the threads, see what topics have already been covered. If it's on Facebook, look at the Files tab. A lot of groups will have their page policies posted in there. It's good to know up front what the expectations of group members are. It's not a good first impression to start with a post that's not allowed in the group.
2. Notice the tone of the board. Is it playful? Is it strictly business? Take that into account when you start posting. Often posts that are not in step with the rest of the page get ignored. No matter what the tone, when you are new, you must be careful not to come on too strong. A first impression is hard to break, especially online. I'm not saying don't be yourself, just be your best self. In time, when you've made connections and aren't just a random poster, you'll know what's appropriate and how accepting the group will be of your inner freak. Give it a little time though!
3. Introduce yourself! We all lurk a bit, but don't go too long without introducing yourself. When you comment, people want to know who you are and if you know what you are talking about. A nice introduction will help with that. You want to include the name you like to go by and what has brought you to the group. People will not read more than 4-5 sentences, so keep it short. No one cares about your life story... yet. Here's an example:
Hey all, newbie here! My name is Julia and I'm really excited to be part of this group. I have an Etsy shop that I sell vintage in. I've been dealing in antiques for almost a decade so I hope I can help others who have questions and also learn more about selling on Etsy.
Friendly, informative, readable- that's all you need.
4. Don't drop and run. I'm in a handful of Facebook groups and a moderator for two. It's really annoying when people only post when they want or need something. If you want the group to help you, you have to be around and an active part of the group. Even if you have nothing to say, you can like posts and comments.
5. Look before you plan. So you've got a great idea- a project or an event. Look around, look at the event tab, and then ask if something's being, or been, done. It really steps on people's toes if they've been working on something and a newbie comes in and tries to take over or get people to jump to their idea instead. Most group leaders are thrilled when people take the initiative to plan things, but just check to see if it's not already being done.
6. Be nice and be positive. In my favorite group, we vent. It's sales and that can be frustrating. Our closed group is a supportive place to vent. However, if it was all venting, the negativity would be overwhelming, so we also use a lot of humor and encouragement as well as useful tools. It works. When you are new to a group, don't post only negative posts and definitely don't make antagonistic comments on other people's posts. You don't have to be Suzy Sunshine if you are naturally more of a Debbie Downer, just think before you post and try to imagine how it will come across to other group members. It's a great practice in diplomacy and self control. Later, once you've proven you are not a whack job, you'll be able to make more off the cuff comments, but in general, the internet would be a better place if we all used a little more tact anyway.
So what are some other helpful tips you'd give a group newbie? Made any rookie errors that are funny or that we can learn from?
