In the freshly explored wilderness of social media and social recruiting, it sometimes feels like anything goes. Rules have yet to be established, and etiquette is an ever-transforming monster waiting to bite your head off. Don’t be a Percy Fawcett; use some common sense and these four tips to safely blaze through the jungle of social recruiting.

1. Know your platforms’ pros and cons.

LinkedIn is the most obvious place to make unsolicited job offers. It is a professional networking site after all. But people who aren’t currently looking for a job may not be very active on LinkedIn and may not have email notifications set up. In that case, it’s time to turn to more social networks like Facebook and Twitter. While Facebook offers more space for longer messages, not everyone receives notifications for messages from strangers. On Twitter, you are nearly guaranteed they will see your message, but you are limited to 140 characters.

2. Do some research.

LinkedIn is a powerful platform. If you have the right settings and format your profile well, it can be the ultimate recruiting tool, but first you have to figure out how to use it. Look through LinkedIn’s guide to learn all the ins and outs of using their site to recruit new hires.

3. Put yourself in the candidate’s shoes.

Remember, unless this person is actively seeking a job, they are not expecting to hear from you, especially not via one of the social networks they use to kill time and connect with friends. Take this into account when crafting your first message. Mention something that shows you have taken personal interest in them and looked through their account. You’re not a robot. Don’t talk like one!

4. Keep it short and sweet.

Social networking is not a different platform for corporate emails. It’s a completely new beast, and the way you communicate must reflect that. Social media is all about conversation, so instead of propositioning them with a three-paragraph pitch, start with a sentence or two. Try something like, “I don’t mean to be a stalker, but I just love your work on Project XYZ! I think you’d be a great fit with us.”

After safely navigating the jungle of social media seething with opportunities for social faux pas, you’ll still need help managing your employees, payroll, insurance plans, and other HR needs. Managepoint is your HR Outsourced partner ready to help you conquer the next adventure.