Suggestions on using social sites

Facebook and Twitter are popular sites for letting followers know about events. Should you use them in addition to your main Web site?

I think these social sites are very helpful as supplemental advertising to potential customers, and as a method of keeping in contact with your existing customers. However, do not confuse your company's use of these sites with personal content.

Personal content (such as where you are going on your vacation, what you're having for dinner, or what you are buying) does not represent your company, they represent you; and while it may be appropriate to post your personal activities on your personal social site, you do not want to lose potential clients because they see you (as the business owner) as non-professional.

My suggestions on using social sites for posting company activites are:

• 1. Maintain a professional face, even if your company's service is something fun (like providing entertainment). Feel free to post photos and videos related to your company's official services, but I'd suggest not posting your company's last open-bar party.

• 2. Make sure you keep up with posting to these additional sites. If people find them going stale, they won't follow them. You need to dedicate time to post something at least once a week; if you don't have that many activities or offers, then come up with a suitable list of items you can use for the first month or two before setting those sites up.