How Are You Branding Yourself & Your Business?

With all the talk about branding and creating an image for yourself and your business, consider how you’re representing yourself on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.  This also applies to a blog you establish, either a personal one available to the public, or a business blog.

Image: sxc.hu

 When I see all the personal information people write there on social media and photos they post, I wonder if they realize how they appear to others.  Perhaps they don’t care.  But those words and photos could follow them for years.

Do your words and photos portray you as want the public to view you as a business person?

For instance, if you’re a beauty consultant, do you want to show pictures of yourself in grubbies and with no make-up.  That would be okay on a personal page that only select people can view.  But  what about your public and potential clients?  Yes, it makes you seem “real” and approachable, but will it also turn some people off?

If you’re a photographer, do you want to show your worst work, unless you’re presenting a “do” and “don’t” tutorial. 

If you have a daycare in your home, do you want to show  or tell about  your children doing something funny, but potentially dangerous…even if it’s at a time the daycare isn’t in session? 

If you’re building a business as a home decorator, do you want to show pictures of your home when messy?  Unless it’s a before and after. 

If you have a home business, what you write about your personal lives…and some people have very few restraints about their language and actions…reflects on your business.  Also, you may decide to start a business in the future.  Will some of that social media information pop up to haunt you?

You’re building your image wherever you are, in whatever you do, whether it’s in your hometown or online.  Consider how you want to represent yourself and your business.