Social media is quickly becoming a very popular way to promote your business online. The most frequently used social networking websites include Twitter, Facebook, Linked In and MySpace. Shama Hyder, blog author of After The Launch, explains how you can use Facebook to benefit your small business. In the article, “Top 10 Ways To Use Facebook To Promote Your Business For Free“, Shama talks about representing your business is a professional manner.
Most of the networking websites encourage a relaxed, social environment with a carefree attitude. While the nice environment makes you comfortable, I think it is important to keep your personal and professional lives separate to an extent. I don’t think your potential clients or customers want to see pictures of you in your swimsuit, drinking margaritas on your last vacation. If you’re looking to make friends or contacts that are not business related, my advice would be to make a separate personal profile just for those purposes.
If you have a social network profile and a separate website, make sure there is unique content on each. Give readers a reason to view the website and the social network profile.
Ha, ha! Nice point, “I don’t think your potential clients or customers want to see pictures of you in your swimsuit, drinking margaritas on your last vacation.” I’m kinda torn on the matter with regards to that. I’m a firm believer in keeping business and personal seperate but there are times when it’s enlightening to see a business associate in a relaxed personal environment, too. But we all know when too much is too much. Don’t give me too much information and for goodness sake . . . please don’t show me too much either!
Funny story . . I used to work for a small, family run business and every year the owner invited the employees and their spouses to his house on the river. We enjoyed many good times there, until the owner had a bit too much to drink one year and exposed his bare rear end to everyone from the shores of the river. Agh! Working with him was never the same again
I think there is a fine line when it comes to what is accepted to be professional or not. Fun, innocent pictures of yourself are fine, but not ones where you are crazy and in inappropriate situations. Especially if you are nanny, that may raise a few questions you aren’t prepared to answer.
I agree about this to a degree: “I don’t think your potential clients or customers want to see pictures of you in your swimsuit, drinking margaritas on your last vacation.”
While that’s true to an extent if the photos are potentially embarrassing or suggest you might have bad habits (such as getting drunk all the time), on the other hand, I like to see business people in relaxed social settings — again, as long as it is not embarrassing or something you’d regret down the road.
I go by the Mom rule — never put anything out there you might be embarrassed to have your Mom see published on the Web. Or a potential client.
– Anita
Do you know if companies have implemented policies for employees use of e.g. Facebook profiles, Twitter messages etc?