Last month, we talked about finessing your look:  first impressions count perhaps more than we know and if you are hoping to convince clients to part with thousands of their hard-earned dollars, you must dress the part and look professional.

Another crucial aspect of your own ‘brand’ is your image on social media. Here are some tips to ensure that your personality can shine – but your professionalism won’t be hampered. You really can’t separate your personal image from your professional image if you are an entrepreneur.

Chances are a potential client will check you out on LinkedIn and/or your host agency’s agent search tool or, if you are a member, the Virtuoso site. But these days a few keystrokes can also put them onto your Facebook page to see “what you are really like”.

Before adding any post, just think for a moment how you will appear to a potential client or to your boss.  Inflammatory remarks, whimpering about the severity of your hangover or using $%@#* bad language will say a lot about your personality. I don’t think you need a separate professional Facebook page – but your personal page must be professional.

More advisors are using video on Facebook and YouTube to promote their services. Before aiming that camera at yourself, make sure you are looking your best! Think again of that client who may be spending thousands of dollars with you: chances are he or she wants to work with a well-groomed professional.

Twitter is an excellent and quick way to build your professional image: clients will appreciate reading articles about travel tips and destination overviews that you can copy and post in seconds with a note such as: “Want to pack lighter? Check this out!”

Keep the conversation going, and keep it upbeat and informed. It will say volumes about you.