The word “personal” is used in many way, to be interpreted differently, according to the context. There is such a thing as getting TOO personal, and you need to keep yourself in check to ensure you don’t cross that line.
Be Wary of Your Blog Personality.
Many people start blogs to spread their unique opinions and feelings. They see the blog as a forum for expressing who they really are, by advertising everything that they like and dislike. While it’s a good idea to have some creative outlet where you are free to express yourself, you need to keep in mind who has access to your blog. Revealing juicy personal details about your wild, drunken weekend probably isn’t the best course of action to take when trying to develop your personal brand identity on the Internet. Even if your blog is meant to be personal, private and only read by a select few, the Internet is a public domain. Anything can get spread and be read by anyone, so be weary of what you post. Though it’s all well and good to want people to know what you’re going through and keep people updated on your life, monitor what you’re saying and save the ultra-personal details for face-to-face conversation.
Don’t Tweet Your Every Move.
To some, Twitter is more than just a social media forum: it’s an obsession. Though many Twitter users these days know how to tweet in moderation and use the “right” form of tweet to send, there are still some users who feel the need to tell the world what’s new in their life every couple of minutes. Not only does the constant tweeting get rather annoying and spam up followers’ dashboards, it does nothing positive for developing your personal brand identity. Sure, it shows you’re a part of social media and want to connect with others, but it’s a prime example of not knowing what you’re doing and neglecting your ultimate goals. Remember that just because it has the capability, Twitter doesn’t have to be the outlet for letting the world know your every move with events like “Walking the dog” or “I just turned left on this street”. These aren’t relevant to your personal brand identity, and they reduce your Twitter account to glorified spam.
Save the Life Story for a Book.
Facebook is one realm of social media where people’s brand identity becomes far too personal. Pictures, status updates, notes, wall posts–all of these are subject to criticism. All your activity says something about who you are, whether you accepted Mom’s friend request or have a wall full of comments from an exceptionally vulgar buddy. If you want your Facebook to remain personal, change your privacy options so only friends can see your info—though keep in mind there are other ways for potential employers to get such information if they really want to. You don’t need to come across as the perfect,squeaky-clean employee, but you need to use common sense. Ask yourself before posting something how you would feel if you read or saw the post on someone else’s Facebook. Nothing should be done impulsively.
Remember Why You’re There.
Social media is all about making connections and keeping them, not sharing your life story with every single person you’re ever acquainted to. Certain details just don’t need to be posted to the World Wide Web and should remain in your more personal network. While you want to promote yourself with some personal touches, it’s important to remember to develop your personal brand identity outside of your intricately knit personal life.
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