Have you ever said something to someone you wish you hadn’t? We’ve all done it. Maybe we didn’t think it through, or reacted irrationally without all the facts, but usually it’s just between you and the person you were talking to at the time (or maybe the eavesdropping couple sitting at the restaurant table behind you.) Social networking though brings the whole online world into the conversation. Saying something brash online can really turn things upside down for you or your business, and can be a hard thing for you to reconcile. Before you know it what you’ve said has been retweeted countless times. This third social networking etiquette tip, we’ve all heard before, but it’s something we should always remember and adhere to. You’ll never go wrong if you’re…

…polite — People have a tendency to say things online they would never say face to face. I have seen instances where people on Twitter have a personal beef or a problem with a person and tweet it out publicly. Don’t say anything you would be embarrassed for your loved ones — or the whole online community — to read. Being respectful even to people who aren’t respectful to you is the way to go. It says a lot about you and your business.