These are the slides from my presentation during Creating A Life in Music at McNally Smith College of Music. I was asked to speak on how to make your social media persona more professional, and how to protect yourself.

1. SOCIAL MEDIA
PROFESSIONAL VS. PERSONAL
Did you know: You don’t have to be a bird to Tweet,
that a Bookmark can be Delicious, and Facebook
isn’t a photo album of head shots?

2. Quick Stats
Blogs are now used by 24% of Internet users, up
from 13% in 2006
Social networks are now used by 26% of Internet
users, up from 17% in 2006
75% of online adults 18-24 have a profile on a social
networking site

3. More Stats
35% of hiring managers use Google for background
checks on job candidates
23% of hiring managers use Social Sites during the
hiring process
66% of GenY didn’t know the info on Social Sites
could be used for hiring decisions
56% of GenY think it’s unfair to use Social Sites for
hiring decisions

4. Be Human
Social Media is just that, social, which is a HUMAN
connection. Even if you’re a business or a band
people/fans will respond better if you’re human
online, and not just a company figure.
With that in mind where is the line between personal
and professional in a social network?

5. Sites To Be On

6. MySpace Music
If you are a musician there is no better place.
Upload Music (available to download or not*)
Ability to customize
Seen as professional buy the music community
Should NOT be overly personal

7. Not Professional
Being offensive is not the right approach to being “human” and personal
on your profile.
Remember you’re not just being seen by your friends that know you and
all your “jokes.”

8. Professional
You can be personal, human, and candid but still look professional.
If you have fans with photos use them, it creates a connection, you seem
like a person as well as an artist who appreciates the fans and their
contributions.

9. Facebook
Friend Lists:
- use them, they can give you the best of both worlds.
How To Use Friend Lists:
1. Go to your “Friends” tab
2. Click “Make a New List”
3. Choose a Name (Friends, Family, Work, etc)

10. Facebook
4. Add “Friends” to the list
5. Decide who sees what

11. Facebook
Creating a Band/Artist Page:
1. Go to Ads & Pages
2. Click Artist, Band, or Public Figure
3. Choose “Band” and enter the name

12. Twitter
“What are you doing?”
Twitter is a microblogging site. You have 140
characters to explain yourself.
Many artists/labels are using this to make
announcements, both personal and professional.
Think of it as a mini press release.

13. Twitter
Twitter announcements
can generate enough
traffic to crash a server,
never underestimate the
power of 140 characters.

14. Linked In
Professional Social Network
Linked In is a great place for professionals to
connect, you a linked by your industry and past/
present jobs.
Linked In is also a great place to find work/jobs.

15. Linked In
Professional Social Network

16. Promote Your Music
There are many places to sell your music
online, the question is where do you want
to sell your music?
Your Blog?
Your Website?
iTunes?

17. Promote Your Music

18. Promote Your Music

19. RSS Feeds/Reader
RSS Feeds are a great way to watch what people are
saying about you or your brand online.
- Find a RSS Reader that you like, I use Google Reader.
(www.google.com/reader)
Twitter Search: Search for your brand or name and
subscribe to the feed.
Google Blog Search
Serph (www.serph.com)

20. Links:
If you want to download this presentation go
to: http://www.slideshare.net/whitneytaylor/
social-media-professional-vs-personal
Facebook: www.facebook.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com
Audiolife: www.audiolife.com