Ego vs. Business, A Social Media Fight to Brand
Social media has been the vain of us all. Taking our 6 degrees of separation down to 3 degrees, many of us now cannot see ourselves without social media. It redefines the term relationship or friendship and construes the lines of personal boundaries because of the personal access given to others. All single handedly stroking our egos.
In business it has affected us the same way. I have used my social media profiles for personal and business for several years now and I have learned over time what to post and what not to post. It’s been difficult because I have had moments I wanted to vent or rant on about a problem or annoyance. I have made my mistakes of posting about something, realizing I shouldn’t and would eventually take it down. I was allowing my ego to vent. But in the mix of it I was also promoting my businesses and connecting with other professionals in the area. So I eventually had to make a conscious decision to control my ego and choose a path of positive posts. Granted I’m not perfect but I have learned a lot from having a public profile.
On my personal profiles I post pictures or comments about family and moments in my life. But I try to balance it with the business and uplifting information. What I refrain myself from doing is complaining about others if they rub me the wrong way. I do this to maintain my brand.
Your personal brand is an expression of your professional branding. If you own a small business and promote your small business on your personal profiles you are indirectly using your personal brand to market your business. You are in turn allowing your profile friends and followers to get to know you and buy into your brand in hopes that they will buy from your business.
Once you have established your personal brand through social media you now have a choice to market yourself in a positive or negative manner. Every time you post about uplifting moments or people doing good things in the world the better your brand looks. The moment you complain about a fight you had with your boyfriend or drop names about the snakes in your life your personal brand is questioned. Know yourself and position your brand so that you develop trust with your followers and friends, be positive and always keep yourself in check when you have an urge to vent. Your brand and business will be better off for it!
