The Personal-Professional Mix in Social Media: Interview with Geoff Livingston

by Kivi Leroux Miller on July 16, 2010

in Nonprofit Communications,Online Marketing,Social Networking

You have to be genuine, generous, and grateful in social media to succeed, which means you have to be a real person. But if you go too far in putting yourself out there — what some people would callĀ building your personal brand — you can overshadow the nonprofit cause that you are representing. Finding this right personal/professional mix is challenging, especially for small nonprofits.

I interviewed Geoff Livingston of Zoetica Media yesterday to get some additional perspective on this for you. During the conversation, we talked about how several nonprofits are handling this, including the National Wildlife Federation, the Humane Society of the United States, LiveStrong (Lance Armstrong Foundation), and Goodwill of Greater Washington DC, as well as some corporations.

Personal-Professional Mix in Social Media with Geoff Livingston from Kivi Leroux Miller on Vimeo.

Kivi Leroux Miller interviews Geoff Livingston about the personal – professional mix in social media, including the notion of personal branding. Cases discussed include National Wildlife Federation, Humane Society of the United States, LiveStrong, the Goodwill Fashionista and more.

What’s your experience with finding the right personal – professional mix? What do you see in the nonprofit sector that’s working, or not working?

Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.


  • Nice video and thanks to share your interview.
    good article with good info.
  • It's really hard to get the right mix. I have people ask me about this all of the time. Who should I be online? How much should I talk about my personal life? And frankly, I think we should be our highest selves online. That means that you should add to the discussion in the best way possible, offer resources, and support for a better future. Do talk about your personal life if it adds to the discussion. Otherwise, it doesn't need to be talked about.

    Mazarine
    http://wildwomanfundraising.com
  • Timherrera
    Interesting interview with Geoff Livingston and the fine personal-professional line organizations can cross using social media.
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