Thanks to the rise of social media, with millions of people around the world having Facebook and Twitter accounts, people have begun wising up about their own social media “personas.”
Many working professionals realize the difference between what they want to share via social media and what they should share, but there has been a new trend towards professionals creating separate accounts — one for work life and one for personal life.
Is Segmentation Effective?
Having two different Facebook and Twitter accounts can be a benefit for employees who want to network with prospective company employees and clients. The employee’s Facebook profile can include their company headshot, a lengthy professional bio with a description of duties. The Info section can also include the employee’s work contact information, such as phone number and email.
Additionally, an employee’s professional Twitter account can share industry-related information, articles, and blog posts, as well as company news and updates. This may be something that the employee wants to do via social media, but not necessarily on their own accounts.
Depending on an individual’s profession, it may be useful for them to create a Facebook Page instead of another personal profile. For instance, if a woman is selling Mary Kay, her business may benefit more from having a page instead of a profile.
Are Corporate Requirements Necessary?
Should companies require employees either to have separate “professional” social media accounts or to have a disclaimer on their own personal accounts? Many companies require employees to have the statement, “All Opinions Are My Own” in the profile section of their Twitter and Facebook accounts.
These choices will be determined on each individual company’s mission and overall environment and will depend on the industry and the professionals themselves.
For instance, a banking or government-related office may have stricter requirements for their employee and corporate social media policies than a small, liberal, marketing agency.
The bottom line is, while some employees need boundaries and restrictions, others may thrive from knowing that their company trusts them to always be professional online— whether that is through separate social media profiles or not.
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