Social Media - Blurring the professional and personal?

When I teach a social media class, I always get this question, "How much personal do I put in my profile if I'm using it for business?" Sometimes I get this statement, "I don't want anyone I work with knowing anything about my personal life." (I don't wonder about those folks, really I don't . . . really.) (just kidding - you know who you are)

But really, some of us are open books, well at least partially open and others are more private. That's perfectly fine - great in fact. I currently have two blogs (well. . . ok, three). Two are business, one is personal. The folks who are interested in reading my personal blog may not care one whit about social media or search marketing. Those folks who want to know about business issues - may not want to know about my personal musings on life.

However, on Facebook, my profile is a big mix of both personal and professional. I like to know some of the personality of the folks I do business with, and I don't mind sharing my personality with most people I do business with. However . . . as more of my college and high school friends come on my friend list do I need to worry about photos being tagged of me that might project a less that professional image? (hey, come on, it was spring break and I was 19!)

So, to paraphrase an iPhone ad - the "new" Facebook has a privacy setting for that.

Here's how to use it:

Look at your Facebook Home page, on the left side you have a "News Feed" with lists. At the bottom of that list is a "+ Create" link. Click there to create a list and choose what contacts are part of that list. OK, let's create a list "business" and choose all your business contacts to be part of that list. Save it.

So, let's say I don't want my "business" list to be able to see photos other people tag of me.
I go to my Settings>Privacy Settings and click on "Profile"
Down the list I see "Photos tagged of me" with a drop down menu next to it.
I click on the drop down menu and choose "customize. . ."
At the bottom of the customize box is a place that says "Except these people" - there you can enter specific people OR a list of people that you have defined. So I choose my new list "business."

Now, my business contacts can see my profile, except for photos tagged of me.

Whew . . . safe. :-)

Website or "Blogsite" for small business?

The beginning of this is a post I wrote in back in March of 2005- I've added to it for today.

One of the biggest problems with company websites is they are boring and many seem to be out of date. I have visited many sites and clicked on a "news" tab to find that the "news" was last updated an average of 2.6 years ago.
OK - I didn't average them all, but that feels about right.

What's the answer for small business? A boring, seldom updated website - or a "blogsite?"

----------- jump to 2009----------

Now more than ever, I believe a "blogsite." Not to the exclusion of an informational website, but a blog of regularly updated, relevant, and interesting content is essential. A blog can be a stand-alone, it can link to your website or it can be incorporated into your website. It isn't an either/or question, it's the "you can have it all" answer. Your blog content gives people a reason to come back to your online space.

I work with many Realtors and I've been a Realtor. (in one of my many past lives - another story or 1000) The big news back in the day (read mid to late 90's) was this thing called the Internet. It seems that every real estate services vendor was selling website design and hosting packages - and they were pretty expensive for a new agent on a commission-only-I-don't-think-these-sales-will-ever-close budget.

The blogosphere has changed all that. Low or no-cost entry to the Web has democratized the Internet. And in my opinion, made it better and much more interesting.

Why blog?

It's obvious.

To communicate.

We've taken the lead in teaching social media to clients but as the old fable of the cobbler's children who have no shoes - we took care of others before building our own blog.

So without further ado - we launch the LHWH Advertising & PR blog.

Think First.

Why "Think First?" It's our tag-line, our mantra, but more than that, it's our corporate personality.

We're a group of thoughtful people and we believe you will enjoy meeting the variety of talents and personalities within our walls.

Come back often, subscribe to our feed, enjoy.