Presenting a United Front

The client base is there, the services and products are promoted, and the branding is in sync. But is it really? Are you the same person on LinkedIn that you are on Twitter; on Facebook and Blogger? How about your business cards and stationary? Your email signature and your email address?

When branding your small business, make sure you're presenting a united front. Now, this isn't meant to put you on the defense, but to prompt a little self-assessment. Do your business cards look totally different from your website? Get new cards and recycle the old ones. If your small business is in its infancy and you're still toughing it out at the day job, make sure you list it on your LinkedIn profile.

Without a consistent brand message on the visual and written sides of things, the client gets confused. How are they supposed to find you on the web for your PC repair services if your Twitter handle is DanceDanceLuv, your website is Compcrash.blogspot.com, and your email is first.lastname@gmail.com? It doesn't match up. Yes, you lose privacy here. Don't think that you won't. And, yes, it's tough deciding what to reveal about yourself and your business online.

It's acceptable, however, to have more than one email address, more than one Twitter username and more than one phone number. One set of contact info for personal use and another for business use.

Seamless transitions across all social, communication, and networking platforms online or face-to-face will allow your business the highest level of visibility via word of mouth, search engine optimization and result in more clients.