You know that saying “if it looks like a cat, meows like a cat, and walks like a cat–it’s a cat!” (Something like that!) So, if you’re using your personal social media (your “cat”) like a business page (your “dog”), you’re not going to get the benefits. If you have a personal account (d0g), but you’re using it for your business (cat), then you may think you have a dog, but what you have is a cat.
Can I Convert My Dog?
It depends. On Twitter, it’s easy to change your account by renaming it, putting up a businessy avatar, and getting the analytics. You can even keep the old tweets. On Facebook, you don’t convert–you add a different account, which kind of hangs off your personal account. On Pinterest, you need to add a piece of code to your website, but it’s fairly easy. And on LinkedIn, you can add a LinkedIn business account easily.
You Want the Analytics
You might not think you do, but you do. Because otherwise, without the numbers, how will you know that what you’re doing is working? You won’t! It’ll be all guesswork. So get the analytics, please!
Social Media and Business
Here are some good articles for using social media for your business:
- Twitter for Business
- How to Set up Facebook for Business
- Pinterest for Business (why you want a business account)
- LinkedIn for Business
Shoe-in.
Know anyone who’s using their personal account as a business account? Or are you using your personal account as a business account? Why? Leave me a comment! Thank you.
Thanks for posting this Carol.
I laughed and thought, “Did she see what I just did on Twitter?”
I used to use my Exit178 (personal account) to bombard (so wrong) people with business stuff. I had my TheAspenStand account but hardly ever used it.
Over the last couple of months I have changed all that up. Getting social and personal (so to speak) on personal account and the business account is still a work in progress.
I have been working on figuring out the analytics for both.
Hah! No, Patricia, I wasn’t pointing any fingers at anyone! But thank you for confessing. I hope you’re getting the analytics now on Twitter to help you figure out when (and what) works best for your business.
Thanks for dropping by, as always!
Carol
My pleasure. Thanks again for such informative posts.
You are most welcome, Patricia!
Carol
I’ve only ever used social media for professional purposes. I’ve never had any personal social media accounts.
It seems a bit odd, I know.
Hi Clement,
Many of my clients do not want to use social media personally, just to spread the word about their business. I would say you’re an ambitious business owner, from that description. It’s not odd at all, only a bit unusual.
Thanks for stopping by,
Carol