Spread the love with social media, but don’t forget to mind your manners

In the Age of Facebook and Match.com, it’s no secret that relationships have gone digital. Two popular classics have followed suit.

Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People (first published in 1937, now with an “in the Digital Age” appendage) and Emily Post’s Etiquette (first published in 1922, now subtitled “Manners for a New World”) have new editions with new advice.

Carnegie’s text, now co-authored by Brent Cole, still maintains the same premise as earlier editions – that developing strategies to “deal” with people is difficult but important. In an excerpt recently published in The New York Times, Carnegie states that learning to interact with others is more challenging – and relevant than ever.

He quotes the presidential speechwriter James Thume: “The art of communication is the language of leadership.”

The best leaders, Carnegie writes, improve relationships with every word and action on a daily basis.  When we do this, we become better, more compassionate people. The kindness is contagious. Aren’t we all moved by altruisum? Carnegie asks.

Social media offers us a variety of tools to spread the love. For non-profits, social media offers (1) a meaningful and immediate opportunity to connect with their donors and supporters and (2) a variety of rich tools to advocate for their cause.

According to Dwight Garner’s recent review of the books published in Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times, both texts offer advice that is commonsensical. Etiquette, rewritten by Post’s great-granddaughter in-law Peggy, offers this advice according to Garner:

DON’T send texts in a theater because the light disturbs your neighbors; don’t scoop your friend’s good (or bad) news on Facebook; remember that your boss owns your e-mail; don’t sync your posts on Twitter with your Facebook page unless you really know what you are doing. Rapid-fire tweets annoy Facebook users the way Jet Skis annoy those in canoes. 

DO check out Fundly today to learn about friendly social fundraising that makes a lot of sense.