There is a long standing belief most people have about work and life; it requires two faces; one their personal life, and quite another at the office. At the office they have to tow the line, act more reserved, put on an air of some sort or simply alter who they are inside because professionalism "requires it". Meanwhile once the 5 o'clock whistle blows, they get to be themselves, let their hair down, not fake it, and get on with their real life. With the onset of social media I constantly hear resistance about participating in social spaces because they don't want their privacy invaded. They want to keep up this feigned persona for 40+ hours a week and then wonder why they detest Monday morning.
The great thing about the new Social Web is the blurring of these definitive lines. It's a venue to be you, 24 hours a day, without some major shift having to occur from 9 to 5. You do not create two profiles to represent yourself - you create one. You are not two people - you are one. And we the people hopefully will soon see that individuals are appreciated for authenticity and genuine personas - and feigning is quite simply transparent. People do business with people. They always have and always will. Social Media - when applied correctly, yes will blur the lines between the two halves of our lives; but will enhance both sides of the coin along the way.
In my traveling sales career I was very fortunate to cover the southeastern United States ... what we here affectionately call Dixie. People in the south may be the good 'ol boy network but let me tell you - no more loyal group exists as my numbers outperformed the rest of the country including monster markets like NYC and San Francisco a great deal of the time. Why you ask? Because Southerners stop along the way and smell the roses - it's not the hard close. Because Southerners are the epitome of gracious hosts and manners - and yes you always make time to hear a good fishing story or what happened at the BBQ last weekend. This approach endeared me to my customers and made doing business fun. It made the partnership and collaborative efforts mean something because there was that personal touch applied. If I was making sales calls in the Raleigh, RTP, Durham area of North Carolina where Duke, UNC, and NC State Basketball rules the communities, I had to know which affiliation my customer's allegiance was with - for you simply didn't mistake a UNC fan for a Duke graduate! Now with Social Media I don't have to scan their office for a particular photo of their allegiance - I simply check their social pages and know ahead of time.
The nuances and fine distinction between individuals makes life full - and this is what we get when we toss out the old demands of separation of work & life and become unified. Your online presence is about being you - being all you can be - wide open for the world to see. This authenticity will accomplish more for you in the social space than trying to keep you story straight - or "act" professional - or the frustrations caused by feeling "as if" you have to be someone other than who you are inside when working.
A few tips to consider when setting up your profiles across multiple social sites:
1. Use your real name - it is who you are after all. If your name is Smith or Jones then perhaps you'll need to use your initials or some variation - but keep it consistent across all social sites.
2. Use the same photograph or at the most 2 photos on all your sites. If you change one, update them all. When a prospect or future employers is vetting you online, consistency is key to developing you as a brand. Regarding Avatar's; I recommend you steer away from them and use a real photo - as I doubt you look animated to that degree nor are Scooby Doo.
3. Post and contribute "as if your mother is watching" for the net is recording your every word. And while you're at it, be up beat and positive. Yes we all need to vent once in awhile, but put some humor with it or dry sarcasm - as who wants to hear someone yammering on about nothing. If you must complain, then suggest an alternative for the subject you are referencing. Make your contributions count.
If you'd like to learn more about engaging in Social Media with purpose while having fun, I will be teaching Applied Social Media for Sales online in early September in partnership with the Social Media Academy. Specifics on the course are available at: http://www.socialmedia-academy.com/html/us-salesprimer.cfm
If you are still skeptical about participating online and blurring the lines between your privacy and your public persona - be forewarned. Since the internet is made up of people at the other end of an IP address, the social nature that has developed will not be undone. If you intend on keeping your career intact and be successful, it is inevitable you join in the fray and learn to enjoy it. Your customers, future prospects, competitors and peers are already there.