Pierpont Communications, Inc.

Social media is all about the conversation – what you’re saying, what others are saying and the dynamics of your interaction.

But are you saying too much? How do you determine if you’re providing valuable content or simply over-sharing?

Creating a presence for yourself on sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube is a great way to establish and cultivate your personal brand. Staying active on these sites is even more important, given that the true benefits of social media emerge as you develop connections with others through ongoing dialogue and interaction.

However, problems arise when you share too much. As businesses turn to social media to vet potential job candidates and network with industry peers, what you say on your Facebook page or Twitter feed can make or break how others perceive you.

We’ve all seen those tweets and status updates –blips that describe what someone ate for lunch, how long they sat in traffic on the way home from the office or how excited they were to watch the newest episode of Glee. Posting quick updates like these can be hard to resist, but before you hit “send,” ask yourself if what you’re saying is conducive to the online reputation you want to uphold.

If you’re seeking new job opportunities and want to come across as a thought leader in your field, would you want an HR manager to find out how many margaritas you had at happy hour? If you’re looking to build your professional network, would you want your new contacts to learn about your relationship problems?

Whether frivolous, silly or ridiculous, extraneous posts can prove that too much of something isn’t necessarily a good thing. Because it’s important for your social media profiles to exude your personality, try mixing your “no-brainer” posts with a steady stream of links to compelling news articles, re-tweets of other insightful messages or thoughtful commentary/recommendations regarding your favorite hobbies or interests.

Social media is a matter of quality over quantity. While frequency is important, the content behind your posts is much more critical when it comes to establishing a personal brand and building an online network.

How do you strike a balance with your social media content? Please share with us below!