Personal or professional?

This weekend I revisited my rather neglected personal blog and also built a new blog for Made in Brighton, my brighton-based craft group. They each clearly represent different areas of my life but it got me thinking about personal branding in this age of social media and digital footprints.

With Twitter I made a proactive choice to just have one account and delete the dedicated Boutique one. Like many people I use Twitter to learn, share and make connections, personal & professional. I’m aware my stream can verge on random & the introduction of lists has made it absolutely apparent that I contribute different things to different people (featuring in 50 lists so far ranging from digital marketers to ‘moraletwits’). For me the mix has really worked.

As an independent consultant, perhaps I can blur the lines between personal and professional more. The nature of the way I work closely with Directors and their teams means it really helps if they like me. I’ve also chosen to focus on areas that genuinely interest and excite me so my work/play boundaries aren’t as strict as in former years. But I do think for the majority business is personal and your communications can and should show some personality and reflect the values of the organisation.

N.B. That said, best avoid mixing business and pleasure on the likes of Facebook. Unless your client was with you on the dance floor at 3am there’s no need for them to see that come Monday morning…

Tweet unto others…

The kerfuffle over the weekend with Stephen Fry threatening to leave Twitter made me think about behaviour online.  As our national treasure Mr Fry himself recognises, the ensuing circus was out of all proportion but it did serve as a reminder…

1)      There are real people behind each username, whether famous or not, they have feelings.

2)      Don’t say anything online you wouldn’t be willing to say in person.

3)      Think before you comment. Is it necessary? Is it kind?

The beauty of social media is a sharing of knowledge and ideas. And, arguably, by putting yourself out there you are putting yourself up for potential judgement. Not everyone will like what you’re doing or agree with all your ideas (how dull would that be?!) but let’s discuss and be constructive. There is too much temptation to jump on people and hide behind our screens. I pulled myself up earlier having commented on the Rooney’s choice of name for their baby; it tickled me but I’d be mortified if I thought they’d seen some of the comments and been hurt by it.

There’s lots of good too. I have seen so many instances of support and generosity on Twitter so know that networks can be a great source of positivity. The longer I hang out the more I think that behaviours and personalities are amplified online, for good or bad. Seth Godin says Twitter is High School; it’s an interesting point.

Boutique 2.0

As my first post for Boutique’s shiny new site I wanted to take the opportunity to explain my ethos and approach.

Boutique started life as a ‘traditional’ PR agency nearly six years ago. We worked predominantly with business owner/managers and an interesting thing happened. We were brought in as they had identified a need for PR but once we worked together traditional media relations formed a tiny percentage of the work we would end up doing with them.

This is because I believe PR is everything that you do. This isn’t a hollow claim in a bid to get all your marketing budget as a PR but a deep seated belief that no amount of press releases will help you if your product or service doesn’t deliver.  Likewise the wrong messages to the wrong people, a failure to nurture existing client relationships as you’re too busy chasing new ones, or not communicating effectively to attract the right staff are all going to effect the success of your business.

As a communications consultant I work with my clients to establish how they should be communicating across the board, identify appropriate strategies and tactics, then equip them to implement them.  In a nutshell I come in look at what’s working, see what needs fixing and focus your efforts on the right things to help you grow. I can provide ongoing support as long as you need me and then like a modern day Mary Poppins I’ll fly away on my magical umbrella*.

*Disclaimer: I do not actually own a magical umbrella, or carpet bag. But secretly wish I did.