I posted this in my Home Biz on a Shoe String Forum at Woman Owned and thought I would share it here also. I mention an ad for the Kiva organization www.kiva.org, I have since removed the ad. 
 
The subject of a person’s business image recently came up yet again as I was talking to a couple of biz women about my own business site. I am pulling my Watkins sister site together and have placed an unobtrusive (I think) ad for the Kiva organization, a self-help and lending/borrowing organization for women (many 3rd world) starting up their businesses. I am still not sure if that is a good or bad thing to do, but I believe in the organization. That conversation led to the old question about joining social groups to post about your business as some direct selling/MLM’s advise. I think heavy posting in these social groups is a double-edged sword. Do it often enough and people stop opening your posts, even when you have real information to offer. 

The Creative Group, a service that provides staffing, etc.  recommends you use business Web sites, such as ZoomInfo, to strategically post positive information about yourself.  Professional social-networking sites, such as LinkedIn, (also Woman Owned, which is pretty much 98% women oriented) are good places to go to make good contacts and find potential clients and services. Be aware that all business and professional sites are not created equal. 

Also, make a decision as to whether you want to show your own photo or simply a dynamite logo. For years I did not post my picture on any of my sites, then the owner/publisher of my writing/advice site, Work & Family  asked that all editor hosts send in a photo to show readers’ who we are because they are more likely to feel more connected. I resisted for a while, but it turns out that she was right on the money I do not use my photo for my Watkins home business because the products speak for themselves and the Watkins logo is recognizable to many.

Remember that your digital reputation is most important because it is easily transmitted to any number of people. If someone is happy with you or your product, your URL may be forwarded any number of people, keep in mind that unhappy people are even more likely to forward your URL, along with sone pretty harsh words.  A survey, developed by staffing services firm, The Creative Group  www.creativegroup.com/  , says that nearly 50 percent of advertising and marketing executives polled said they go online to find information on prospective candidates. 14  percent said they had decided not to hire a candidate because of the online information they found. MMMmmm. Something to think about.