Why you shouldn't 'friend' your boss on Facebook

Here is an important lesson to be learned from Social Media – in this instance, networking site Facebook.


Don’t ‘friend’ your boss and then badmouth him in a status update!

As funny as that example is, though – it’s a sober warning for the rest of us. With the advent of ‘social media’ like blogging, Twitter and Facebook, it’s never been easier to create your own online identity and communicate it across the Internet.

But it’s worth remembering that what you project into the information superhighway stays there – and can often come back and haunt you with nothing more complicated than a ‘google’ search of your name.

Coworkers, bosses, clients and even potential new employers will be exposed to whatever you’ve thrown out onto the Internet and their opinion of you will be influenced as a result.

If your blogs are rambling and full of typos, it projects a message that you’re sloppy and lack attention to detail.

If you launch f-bomb laden rants on political forums, you come across as angry and opinionated.

If your Facebook profile features nothing but pictures of drunken debauchery, your boss might start to wonder if your ‘Monday morning flu’ is authentic!

So take charge of your online identity! You’re in control of how other people view you online and if you’re not proud of the result, you’ve got nobody to blame but yourself.

Fortunately, help is at hand.

Social Media Specialist Tyler Jennings is giving a lecture this Friday (September 25th) to present ‘Personal Branding 2.0: Best Social Media Practices.’

Personal Branding 2.0: Best Social Media Practices
7:45 a.m.--9:30 a.m.

USA TODAY
535 Madison Avenue
32 Floor

In this 90-minute lecture, he’ll introduce you to the same brand-building exercises that real businesses use to establish their hierarchy amongst competitors, talk directly to their consumers and establish the values they wish to be identified with.

Using these techniques, it’s a straightforward exercise to build a ‘personal brand’ you feel fairly represents you.

So if you’re a frequent ‘Twitterer’ or spend more than an hour a week on Facebook, Jenning’s lecture could help. Find at more at the AWNY website here.