Social Media Marketing: Something Is NOT Always Better Than Nothing

An effective social media presence is becoming an essential for professionals whether they target a local, national or international market.

More and more people are checking online to find information about professionals met at networking events or to whom these people are recommended.

If you're a professional, it's important to have, at the very minimum, an effective LinkedIn profile. But does this mean that you must fill in all the information fields on that profile?

Obviously the more relevant information you can provide the better. But this relevant information must add to your professional reputation and not subtract from that reputation.

Thus, while it's a good idea for professionals to have their own websites or blogs, I would NOT recommend you include on your LinkedIn profile a link to your website if that website does not reflect positively on your reputation.

A professional emailed me the following in regards to the professional's website:

Although it's not as fancy as I would like, I thought it would be better to get started with something. Eventually, I would like to spruce it up.

First, effective does NOT mean fancy. And, second, "eventually" can be a long time coming.

As I explained in the guest blog post titled "Are You Presenting a Professional Image on Social Media?" – if you are linking to a website that does not help your reputation, take the link off your LinkedIn profile.



In this case half a loaf, as the expression goes, is not better than none.



If you don't want to get an effective website at this time, then put more effort into establishing effective social media presences on sites such as Facebook (a Facebook Page for business and not a personal Facebook profile).

You can link to your Facebook Page from your LinkedIn profile, or even link to a professional site on which you appear. For example, I could link to my Beverly Hills Leads Club blurb: www.beverlyhillsleadsclub.com/bevhillsleads/directory/directory.html#miller

Before you put anything online, including a comment on someone else's blog post, consider how what you are about to do will reflect on your reputation. And remember that something is NOT always better than nothing.

© 2011 Miller Mosaic, LLC

Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) is the co-founder of Miller Mosaic Social Media Marketing. Download now the company's free report "5 Tips for Staying Top of Mind With Your Prospective Target Markets" at www.millermosaicllc.com/los-angeles-social-media-consultant