Photos, Social Networking and Work – Online Photo Sharing Tips for Small Business Owners
Many people upload photos to the Internet through different internet photo sharing methods, including social networking sites, online photo albums, emails, and newsletters. Anyone who publishes photos online or who has photos of themselves published online needs to be careful about which photos are uploaded.
Sharing inappropriate photos may not only harm your professional reputation, but it could also harm your personal relationships. The trouble is, it can sometimes be tough to understand what photos are appropriate for sharing and what photos are best left unshared.
Here are some tips to help you stay smart with your online photo sharing-and to keep inappropriate photos of yourself offline.
Online Photo Sharing Rule 1: Use Discretion
Use discretion-and ask your friends to use discretion-when publishing photos of you on their social network sites. Remember: using discretion when developing your online reputation is one of the best ways to ensure your privacy and appeal to a larger market.
Check Privacy Settings for Personal Social Media Accounts
If using Facebook (many people are – including your clients, colleagues, and work superiors), be sure to check your Facebook sharing privacy settings for photos, wall posts, updates, and more.
Email Carefully-and Always Double Check Before Sending
Email with care-and always double check your “send to” addresses. Only send photos via email that you would feel comfortable sharing with everyone you know. There are a few things to keep in mind when sending photos via email specifically at work or to work-related associates, such as clients.
Research Photo Sharing Websites Before Uploading
Choose the right photo sharing website to which you plan to upload your photos. Look for sites that have privacy settings or that only allow you to share your online photo albums with people you approve. It may be okay for some of your clients to see your personal photo albums, but make sure you’re comfortable with the privacy settings so that you have control over who sees your snapshots.
Consider Your Professional Image on Professional Networking Sites
When networking on a professional networking website, keep in mind that the photos you share represent your personal image. There are 3 types of photos you should never add to a professional networking site-and there are some photos that you should feel completely comfortable sharing on professional networking sites, as they could enhance your professional image. Take time to consider what you want your professional image to be before uploading your photos.
A Few Reasons Not to Share Photos Online
Everyone has different reasons for sharing-or not sharing-photos online. Here are a few reasons you might not want to post a photo of yourself online, but be sure to make a list for your own reasons before uploading your photos.
Remember: as a small business owner and professional, your personal reputation is often directly tied to your professional success. Upload and share with caution and ask your friends to do the same!
The Benefits of Tumblr for Your Small Business
Using Tumblr for your small business can be an excellent way to establish a web presence, keep customers informed with fresh content, and attract a new audience to learn about your company. In the race to utilize social media for sales and marketing, Tumblr is often overshadowed by online outlets like Twitter and Facebook. Tumblr has some unique differences, however, that set it apart from other social media sites and give it tremendous value for a growing small business. Here are a few key benefits that Tumblr can provide your company.
Tumblr makes establishing a web presence for your small business simple. Many small business owners are well aware of the fact that having a company website is a necessity for survival in the 21st century, but knowing where to start the process can often be overwhelming and confusing. Within a few minutes, you can set up a new Tumblr page and be ready to start putting content on the web. Additionally, Tumblr makes it simple to direct your existing domain name to your new Tumblr site. While some blogging tools like Blogger may seem too simplistic or limited for your needs and others like WordPress may seem to have an intimidating learning curve, Tumblr reaches a happy medium and gives you the power of serious blogging without the worries of serious web programming.
Tumblr makes it easy to configure and customize the look and feel of your small business website. One of Tumblr’s most appealing benefits is the large number of free and downloadable templates that can be used to completely change the aesthetics of your Tumblr page. While Tumblr has traditionally housed standard blog-format pages, a number of new themes are focusing on creating elegant and creative portfolio, news, or traditional web site designs to your small business. Free Tumblr themes can be found all over the web, but one of the best places to start looking is the Tumblr Theme Garden. Here, Tumblr has compiled the best themes and templates available for easy search and download.
Finally-and perhaps most importantly-Tumblr takes the scariness out of starting a website and blog for your small company. Many small business owners don’t have the time or expertise to keep large amounts of high quality content cycling through their page. This can lead to these individuals either avoiding a web presence altogether or losing interest in keeping content fresh after a few months. Tumblr is designed to support multiple types of content, however, so the need for lengthy text entries is a thing of the past. If you’re at a loss to create a worthwhile news article about your company, upload a picture of your new shop redesign or provide a link to another company you’ve recently partnered with. Once you adopt the mindset of keeping your Tumblr page readily-updated and fresh, you will begin to see opportunities all around you to spread the word about your small business in fun and creative ways.
For a small business, Tumblr can be a simple and effective way to get the word out across the Internet and establish a solid base of engaging content to attract new customers. Visit Tumblr soon and start exploring its possibilities. It may have the perfect social media solution that your small business has been looking for.