When you run your own business and offer a service to others you move yourself into a space that is open for public scrutiny. This is no more evident than on the various social media platforms. People do business with people; most do not see you as a logo or an advert seen on TV. People to People business is what we have become accustomed to and often demand, this allows to have a name and a face to put together with the product or service.

How then do you need to change your social media activity to fit into this new paradigm? Not so easy if you are used to posting pics of you and your mates doing the crazy Friday night thing in Loop street. You need to start cleaning up your perceived online reputation. You need to search out any photo that you have been tagged on and remove those that do not represent your brand. Change the way you comment on blogs if you have come accustomed to those TLAs with hidden meanings. Review what pages you like on Face book or groups you belong to on Linked In and Twitter teams.

For every new client I take on, I always do a full online review of them and their business. A lot can be found and often misinterpreted if taken out of contents. Remember you only have one chance at making a first impression. Simple rules of online engagement: Be Authentic, Honest, Focused, Creative and a little Curious.

Google yourself today and see what the web has to say.