The Unwritten Rules of Social Media - part 1

So you want to use social media, but like any community, there are unwritten rules. In this series we unravel what these are and how to use them to your advantage.

Unwritten Rule #1 - Use the Right Profile Picture

Profile pictures or avatars are important on social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Myspace as they show others who you are. Mine is shown here.

Admitedly there aren't many other people called Hannah Sookias in the world, but a profile picture is important even when there is little chance of mistaken identity.

Ultimately, people like people. Your pages will seem much more personable to the reader and encourage them to connect and interact with you.

A nice, close-up photo is best and if you are using the profile for business, avoid ones that involve you partying!

Top Tip!

I am often asked whether to use logos or people photos on sites such as Twitter and Facebook business pages.

If the business page is for a large organisation, or several people maintain its updates, then I suggest you use the company logo. However, if it is your own company or a smaller enterprise, I'd still recommend a photograph.

Next time: Unwritten Rule #2 - How to write updates