Since I started sharing Social Media with business professionals in Hampton Roads, I have come across success driven people from all industries! Though many are wary of the seemingly unpredictable affects social media can have on their careers, none have been more resistant to riding the social media wave than those from compliance based professions. Financial Planners, Stock Brokers, and Mortgage Brokers for example are professions that are heavily regulated by company policy. Ironically, many compliance based professions have the potential of receiving the most benefit from using social media platforms.

So the question is, how can compliance based professionals use social media without getting fired? The key is developing a strategy that takes the information emphasis off of you as the individual but still gives you the opportunity to be a valuable source of information for your friends, and clients. The foundation of your strategy is branding, or in this case, re-branding. If people is your business, your face and your personality is your brand. In the social media world, you have to be a little creative and develop a separate brand or personality in the blogosphere.

As long as the internet has been around people have been using it to create a new identity for themselves. The beauty of the internet is that anonymity is automatic. You start with a blank sheet of paper and with a little creativity you can draw your own picture essentially developing a new personality or brand online. Though Social Networking Profiles are centered on names and faces, blogs are centered on information.

Assume Your Social Media Alter Ego

As a compliance based professional, you can use your blog to express your opinion and be a source of information and expertise ‘anonymously.’ Then, use your social networking profiles like facebook and twitter etc. as a pointing device to this great information you’ve located online. People are smart and they will get the message. “Person X is always posting the best stock tips… she must be a stock broker or know a good one.” Bam! You’re in there.

If you are in a social profession, social networking is essential to your survival long term. Everyone in your target market is flocking to social media and they are looking to do business with people they can relate with and connect to. Be that person and seize the social media moment that can make your career!