Social media has changed all of our lives forever. It’s now possible to let the world know where you are, who you are with, and what you’re doing no matter where in the world you live or are visiting at that moment. You can upload photographs, share your videos, record your voice, or simply say it in 140 characters or less over at Twitter.
Everyone pretty much agrees that the only social media sites you need to use are the ‘Big Three’ – Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. By setting up accounts at these sites, filling out your profile information, and learning the basics of how to communicate with others, the world will become a much smaller place.
The only question that continues to arise in all of our minds is:
How do we know when the information we are sharing publicly through social media is simply too much information?
This was important to me from the very beginning, so I began to take a look at what others were doing to see what would feel most comfortable to me and my family. Once you put it out on the Internet, it’s there for the world to see, so you must have a strategy to follow.
My family is very private, so we agreed from the beginning that we would not share pictures of any family member who is under eighteen. We have all honored that promise to this day. It is also very seldom that I will post a picture or talk about personal information from the adults in my family.
I am now a public figure, so this means that pictures of me at live events I attend regularly will be everywhere. I love that part of my business and continue to feel grateful that anyone wants to have their picture taken with me. On any given day over at Facebook you will see me giving a status update or a link to one of my sites, and I am thrilled when the comments and ensuing conversation takes off.
Once in awhile there are situations where the line is more blurred. I may want to share about something more private and personal, so this must be done in a manner that respects the privacy of everyone involved.
I can remember when I made my first tweet that was personal in nature. It was the summer of 2009, and my family was hosting an exchange student from China. When we pulled up in front of our house for the first time he commented that he had never known anyone who lived in a two-layer, meaning a two-story, home. We had all thought that was just so cute we wanted to share it with others. Never calling him by name, especially because he was only sixteen, I went on to share much more about this young man over the course of that summer. He was a classically trained pianist, so I recorded the audio of him playing. When we went to Disneyland, it was a picture of Mickey Mouse that was posted to my Facebook page. As we gathered to say goodbye when he was to return home to China, the pictures I shared did not reveal faces that could be recognized. We had successfully shared our joy without compromising our privacy.
Decide right now what the boundaries will be for sharing personal information on your social media accounts. Discuss this with your family and close friends to make sure you are all on the same page.
Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook and join in the fun of social media!
Connie,
You have done well operating within the guidelines you have set for yourself. For me, having come online much later than you (2010), my Facebook was already firmly established as more of a personal venue, and I have pictures of grandkids, vacation trips, etc., all over it. My business “stuff” was thrown in as an add-on. That being said, I have business FB pages, Twitter and LinkedIn that are totally dedicated to my business life. Facebook, however, remains a comfortable blur for me. I think the most important thing is that we think about it, make decisions, and do what’s right for us. Thank you for bringing up the topic, and as always, I appreciate all that you add to the conversation.
Grateful for you,
Jeanne
Connie, you may not know this but you’re included in a small group of thought-leaders I follow, watching how they conduct themselves online. I’ve always admired how you conduct yourself online and how you manage to stay professional while sharing moments of personal joy too. It’s so easy to pop up a status update these days. Too few think about the long-term ramifications of that permanently archived (or often misused) trust. Thanks for posting this addition to the convo.
Always,
Debra
Hi Connie,
I feel that the more people know about me the better. The only thing that I do not disclose is my address. In my niche it’s all about standing out from the crowd. If not, you are just a dime-a-dozen. Therefore, I put it all out there. My mistakes, my pictures, my vulnerability. If my taking risks gets my name out there then that is more then fine by me. Thanks Connie
Connie,
I totally agree that how much we blur the personal and professional lines should be a thoughtful decision. I’m on the private side but do share things that I don’t mind the world knowing because it makes me more human.
Thanks, Michele
Connie, I love to hear that boundary word! How awesome if children were schooled in this idea of not sharing every tidbit with the world. That what you say really does “remain” out there. One former student I had kept posting incredibly inappropriate stories about his, er, lust life, to the point at which I had to block him from my FB page. I don’t like doing that to a child I once had in class, but it was really bad. I wonder if he had any idea that these posts would remain for anyone – his future wife, his future employer, his mother – to see.
If someone came to my house, I’d take them to the living room, not my junk room in the back that you need to sign a waiver to go into. 🙂 If I was going to invite the world into my life, I’d sure want them to sit with me in my living room, not that messy junk room.
As far as social marketing goes, I’d tell kids to make sure that what the world sees is your integrity, not your junk room or bathroom moments.
Just my two and a half cents. 🙂
I agree there has to be some sort of boundary around what we put out into the webisphere, but at the same time I believe it is a very personal boundary. Although I do run my business via social media I also believe there has to be a human element involved as well. And that is where each of us will differ on how we will represent that human part of who we are. What is considered just right for some, will be to much for others and so on. You can only do what feels right for yourself, your family and your business.
Hi Connie,
You’ve raised an issue that I’m concerned with right now as I’ve just turned my personal FB into a business/personal combo. I think more carefully now about what I say on Facebook. I do like that you can segment your friends into lists and when you post on your wall you can specify which list sees it.
Otherwise, I’m much more personal on my business blog – personal about my business, not so much personal with my personal life, although I do put in glimpses of that too. The reason for that blog is to show what’s working and not working for me with Internet marketing. It’s my journey, lumps and all. People appreciate honesty, as you well know. 🙂
Thanks,
Peggy
Yes we need to be very aware of what we reveal about ourselves in social media sites and in fact anywhere on the internet .Women and children are especially vulnerable, I know, I know there are women that can clean my clock, however because I sell my horses online I do reveal my address.
To reduce the risk of possible theft or injury, I feel the need to take precautions like:
My farm is gated and fenced
My buildings are locked
I have guard dogs
I have weapons placed for convenient access
Barbed wire ball sculptures grace my property entrance
Very redneck looking place flying 2 American flags and all…
Gee I almost look paranoid, to think this all
could have been prevented if I’d just not disclosed
my address except on a personal request for directions
Hmmmmmm :- )
I also don’t like to share too much on social media. I used to share much more on Facebook about my kids before I started using it for business. I am sure my mom is bummed that I don’t post pictures of the kids anymore.
I do share what is happening and what my kids are up to if it’s funny or relevant. However, I do not mention their names. There are just too many weirdos out there.
Being an Internet marketer and engaged in social media can present real challenges, and Connie has clearly identified the boundary and privacy issues. Remember, before there was an Internet, you did business with people based on their professional reputations, referrals and you own personal judgment meter. Unless, they were in your immediate community, you didn’t know anything about their personal lives. Social media has changed all that. The question now arises – do I buy your product/service because you are a nice person on social media or do I buy because you have used social media to build a professional reputation I can depend on? Saving the details for friends and family on private pages is a “good thing” but by all means share your personal experices as part of your sales story. Afterall, that makes you human and creates a professional reputation at the same time, and that’s what I’m looking for when I buy.
I tend to share my life with others. Not so much my family’s life but my own. If I see someone who can gain by my talking about what has happened to me in my life, I will share it. I have always been that way and don’t see any reason to change that now. Grandma Marilyn has become know for being that way.
Marilyn
Hi Connie,
It was wonderful meeting you this weekend. I am so glad to know of you and the amazing advice you provide. I am a late arrival at Facebook, having made most of my online connections on Twitter and forums, so when it came time to join Facebook, I did try to separate business from personal, but as my list on Facebook became mostly people I know for business, I took down all family pictures and keep them off. The Facebook privacy settings change so often, and in the past even privately posted items have become public and I know of at least one teacher who was fired very publicly because of this.
I’m looking forward to reading more of what you’ve written and learning more about the services you offer. Thanks!
Kind regards,
Holly Kolman
Hey Connie
Great post as always. I certainly work at finding the boundaries with social media as well. I enjoy my privacy, but I also value many of the connections that I’ve made via social media.
Have a great day!
Tom Buford
“The Info Product Coach”
I started blogging over at Live Journal back in 2001 and so I got very comfortable right away sharing my life online. I had friends from all over the world and loved every minute of it. Once I started my business online I quit blogging so, it’s been a while. I share a few personal things now on Facebook and starting in a few days on my new blog it will be much more about business.
I love my online life.
Marian