Some food trucks have mastered the art of Facebook marketing; others, not so much. As with any social media platform, there are rules by which you should follow. On Facebook, there’s one protocol for your food truck business and another for your individual pages. These 8 Facebook etiquette tips apply to both groups.

8 Facebook Etiquette Tips

The convenience and immediacy of social networking can easily allow us to forget our manners. Invest a couple of minutes to consider these 8 simple Facebook etiquette rules to get the best results from your food truck page.

Stop asking people to”like” your updates

The first of our Facebook etiquette tips is to stop begging for likes. A few years ago, it was common to see posts that started with “Like this post if…” Sadly, it’s still common. Create great content and people will “like” it.

Don’t overpost

Quite simply, if you clog up news feeds, people are going to hide, unsubscribe, and even”unlike” your food truck’s page. The same goes for your personal page. Obviously, we’re all free to give our friends as many updates about our lives as we want, but you should beware of the consequences.

Don’t neglect spelling and grammar

Sure, everyone uses abbreviated language popular in texting and everyone makes the occasional typo. But no one likes wading through posts that have so many typos and abbreviations that they may as well be written in a foreign language. If you have something important enough to say that you want to share it with all of your Facebook friends, it’s worth making the effort to write it out clearly.

Keep the hashtags to a minimum

This isn’t just a suggestion for Facebook etiquette, but for all social media platforms. We’re not exactly sure how hashtags are affecting brand engagement on Facebook yet. But we suggest that you make sure your hashtags are relevant and not excessive.

When a crisis strikes, Keep quiet

We’ve dedicated entire posts to this, but there’s no reason food trucks should post when national/global tragedy strikes. Sending”thoughts and prayers” to the people in the affected area also feels a little thin. A better technique would be to offer your audience a way to help in the form of donations, etc.

Keep it positive

This one goes for the personal and the business page side. As much as you want to rant on your page, consider your audience and whether they’re really interested in hearing you. Ask yourself: Are we sharing this content because it serves us or our audience?

Speak up

When there’s a PR issue on your page, the worst thing to do is stay silent. So often, food truck owners will shut down all Facebook communication when they’re facing any kind of backlash. You’re only going to exacerbate the problem by staying silent. Respond, even if it’s just along these lines: “We hear you. We’re working on it.”

Get personal

The last of our Facebook etiquette tips is personalize your replies who take the time to contact you. Whether it’s a direct message or a comment, the response should never be rote. Seldom does a “Thanks!” suffice. Every person who comments on your page represents an opportunity for a personal connection. Make that connection special, and you’re food truck will have a fan for life.

The Bottom Line

The way your engage with your friends, family, and contacts on Facebook could have a serious impact on your food truck business. Use these guidelines to ensure your Facebook etiquette is polite, meaningful, and reflects the goals of your business.

RELATED: Jump Start Your Food Truck Facebook Marketing In 3 Steps

Do you have any Facebook etiquette tips we missed?Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or on Facebook.