Personal connections are important and for those home business that rely on a web site to share key information and generate business—many find that sharing some personal information about the business owner is good business. But, how much information should you share? Should you be concerned about protecting your privacy? Is there such a thing as too much information and how much do customers and prospects respond to the personal touch?
I know that some small businesses have taken a very “personal” approach to marketing. There are businesses in my home town where the “brand” is the family approach and they include photos of themselves and their children in their advertising and on their web sites. Other people take a very different approach and keep things private or create a “personae” for themselves that is separate from their true identity. I use my “real” name for my writing work, but I do some writing with pseudonyms and while I write about my family and children in some of my work, I do not include their names and personal information. I do not make my address, city, etc. readily available—but it isn’t really a big secret. It just isn’t necessary for my marketing.
I think it depends on the type of business you have and your own comfort level as to how much information you put on your web site. If you have to provide a mail address or you have a physical location for your business, you will need to make a decision about what goes on the web site. Do you want or need to provide personal information about your family—or just yourself? Will e-mail address and phone number suffice? I find that most of my work is done over e-mail so I do not typically need to provide more contact information—but I am not in a sales or product-oriented type of business.
Whatever information you do decide to provide, make sure you keep it current and get permission from any adults (spouse, partner, grown kids, etc.) to include them on your web site or in your home business marketing.
Also: You Want People to Move Around Your Web Site
Materials Should be Jargon-Free
Your Contact Information Should Be On Everything