Week 5: Being real online without oversharing.

Welcome to Week 5 of our 8-week program! This week, we are talking about how to raise your profile online by being human... Sharing with the world not only your message but also your own story behind the message is a very powerful approach for engaging your audience. Here are the most important do's and don'ts for being real online without oversharing. Now, many of the items below are a matter of style and I expect that not everybody will agree, so let's discuss in the comment section below.

Do's

• Use a portrait picture (only if you are comfortable). Our brains are wired to be interested in faces!
• Personal experiences (that you are able and willing to share) help build emotional connections with your audience.
• Feel free to express your honest emotions (#excited, #frustrated), but see below.
• Focus on what your audience is interested in and enhance the content with your own personal touch.
• Find your own voice and proudly carry it. Do not listen to the naysayers. Be authentic!

Dont's

• Do not share information that could become a safety hazard for you or your family.
• Do not communicate emotions (especially negative ones) unless you had enough time to reflect and still feel it is important to share.
• Do not feel pressured to create an "perfect version" of you online. You are perfect the way you are. Pretending to be somebody else online is exhausting and may damage your mental health.
• Do not brag. No go: #soshumbled #sohonored to be the best and brightest of you all!