Big Picture Image

There are countless ways to connect online and it seems that new media is EVERYWHERE. In a few short years social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin and Twitter have added a whole new dimension to how we perceive and interact with the internet and with each other.

What’s a business to do with this new reality? Use it to your advantage, of course. This medium allows both your friends, colleagues and even potential clients to check in on you and see what you’re about. Depending on the generation, individuals seem to deal with the ability to instantly exchange information in 2 ways:

1. The younger crowd tend toward sharing too much information about themselves (i.e., not everyone needs to know the 25 things that no one knows about you or just how often you goof-off with your friends).
2. The older crowd doesn’t share enough information. Having a social network of less than 30 people with all the security settings set to full doesn’t get you anywhere either.

The trick is to open up and release information so you are as internet searchable as possible and share enough information to be interesting and show a little personality. You still want to keep your private life as private as possible while opening up enough to show your own personal flair.

My boss while I was in grad school at USC, Doug Jeffe taught me the old adage–don’t put something in writing that you wouldn’t want printed on a newspaper front page. The same is true here. Consciously manage your image and don’t be afraid of posted things about you, but also don’t get too comfortable that you post too much. If you wouldn’t want it on the front page of the newspaper don’t put on the internet.

However, use the power of these social networks of promote yourself, your business and to have a little fun with the many wonderful people in your life. As so much of business is about you and the people around you. Maintain this balance and you’ll be good to go.