Do you know that there is nothing private when you use social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) no matter what your privacy settings are?
On more than one occasion, I’ve found stuff on people I know who I’m not Facebook friends with or follow on Instagram (in some cases I stumbled on it and in others I went digging – it’s what I do and I’m good at it). When they were notified about these somewhat embarrassing photos they were 1) horrified that I found them, 2) incredulous that I could have found them (well they were private, weren’t they?) AND 3) wanted to know how I found them.
It doesn’t matter HOW I found them, Boo. It matters that you have it out there.
BOTTOM LINE: Don’t put anything online you don’t want an employer, client, law enforcement or your momma to see. These photos can keep you from getting hired, accepted into college or rent an apartment and you’ll never know it. AND from what I’ve seen, some of these photos can even land you in jail!
Now some people will use that as an excuse to no post anything about themselves online and that’s fine. But if you use your images in a responsible way and give thought before you do, they can sell someone on working with you, hiring you, volunteering with your organization or becoming a member of your group without you even knowing. How many times you have checked someone or a company out online BEFORE you pulled that credit card out?
NEWSFLASH: People buy based on emotion then justify after the fact with logic
It’s time to use your powers for good and not for evil.
Do your photos show . . .
- The fun side of you?
- That you have a personality?
- That you enjoy spending time with family and friends?
- You enjoying sailing, golfing or painting or whatever you like to do?
- That you are relatable?
- Your pets? (people love pets – you can spend two days writing an article that could win a Pulitzer Prize and get no comments. Put up a photo of pet or a cute baby and it will go viral!)
- People having fun at your office, meeting or networking function?
KEEP THIS IN MIND: There is a difference between PRIVATE vs PERSONAL. Don’t tell all your business. Take a photo of your child from behind or a silhouette in the shadows. You don’t have to mention their name or where they go to school. And don’t include a photo that shows your street sign or one of your car with the license plate showing. You get to choose. No one else.
Your photos can help people get to know, like and trust you, which is what people need to feel before they buy from you. It’s a part of the sales process, like it or not. Let your photos tell a story about who you are – the one you want told.
And, remember to “Think Like a Storyteller and Let Your Stories (in this case, your photos) Do The Selling.
How about you? Do you have a strategy around what photos you post? Or have a hard-headed friend who won’t listen when you tell them to take something down? Share in the comments below.
I am so happy to see someone put this out there. I have several friends who are college or high school age and they are sharing some very fun but sometimes questionable aspects of their lives everywhere. Even if they use a nom de plume it doesn’t take some very long to connect dots.
Some day when they are “all grown up” and applying for a very serious position somewhere they may find that their childhood experimentation would have been better kept behind closed doors.
Sad but true. Thank you for putting this out into the blogosphere!
Lori, You are so right. This generation grew up using computers before they could speak properly. They have little to no filter and lack the foresight to see the damage they can be doing to their “personal brand” as we call it. And yes, connecting the dots these days is all too easy. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome article Gennia and timely.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond, Miss Rachel!! 🙂