Managing Your Social Media Mullet - Part 1 - Workology

Managing Your Social Media Mullet - Part 1 - Workology Business in the front. Party in the back.  According to  Wikipedia, a  mullet  is a unisex hair style that is short in the front and long in the back. The mullet began making appearances in the popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not catch on with the masses until the early 1980s.  I first wrote about the social media mullet in 2009.  Its a foundation piece of my keynote speeches, social media training sessions, and my book. Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and job seekers can learn from those that sport this fashionable cut when managing their online and social media based personal brand.  A popular saying when describing a mullet comes to mind: Business in the front. Party in the back.  Social media is a conversation not unlike the phone you just finished or the networking mixer you attended last night.  Conversations happen that are guided by a mix of personal yet professional topics.  There are social norms and understandings that are relied upon when it comes to voice to voice or in person contact.  And many forget that when it comes to social media as well as the internet, that these social norms do not apply. Business in the Front Social media platforms like  Facebook,  LinkedIn, Blogs, and Twitter are great mediums in which to develop relationships and grab the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. Share your expertise and lead with the business in all you do. Your posts, pictures, and tweets should be at least 70% business related. Lead with interesting articles, tidbits, and information that is industry specific or related to the job in which you currently work or aspire to. Social media is a form of communication, a channel in which to use to communicate your message.  And people respond to these messages differently because social media isnt about sending and receiving your message, its about the conversations, content, and information flow that you arent disseminating as well as your interactions with those that see you and your business as a information source and a value add. Party in the Back The remaining 30% of your social media content can be related to your personal side but be wary. I have visited  FaceBook  profiles with one too many drunk pictures and tweets leading me to search for talent elsewhere. If you are unsure if something is inappropriate, ask yourself if your mother would approve. Social media is all about interacting and developing relationships. I encourage you to tweet or post comments seeking input and feedback from others. Commonalities make you interesting which lead to engaging conversations with persons from a wide variety of backgrounds. Depending on your business, industry, and personal comfort level, mullet sizes (your party in the back) vary.  My social media mullet has a lot  of party in the back.  Its what Im known for and that is my ability to be very open about my life, family, and personal as well as professional struggles.  Not everyone has the willingness to share, and thats okay.  My mullet is based on the foundational principle of pushing people to what I call comfortable yet necessary places, and to be uncomfortable that means pushing the envelope just a teenie, tiny bit.  Your however, might be completely different. Your social media mullet size, style, and length will vary.  And thats okay.  Its what makes social media social.  Its not a science but a journey helping you to learn as well as define your business and brand one tweet, blog, or Facebook post at a time. This is a four part series on time management when it comes to social media.  This means understanding your voice, and learning techniques to maintain a social media  presence without selling you or your brands soul.   Check out Part 2 Social Media CYA.