Do you ever wonder if you should have 1, 2, 3 or MORE social media accounts to represent your different projects online?

I was asked this by a filmmaker this week during a free consult session.

It’s a question that gets creative business owners in a right pickle so I wanted to share my thoughts with you here too.

Many creators: artists, authors, filmmakers, entrepreneurs (especially the multi-passionate kind) fall into the trap of creating a new presence for each of their creative endeavours or projects.

Sometimes it’s because their passions are so varied and attract different audiences they feel that their identities online need to be separated too.

Or, they feel that they want to keep their personal and professional selves apart.

For most artists and business owners in this dilemma there is one very simple solution.

To me the answer is as clear as a blue sky day. It’s easier being on the outside of a business looking in because I’m not emotionally attached, and I can look at the bigger view with the advantage of an experienced eye.

So, the answer..?

DON’T DO IT!

Here’s why:

You run a really small business – it’s probably just you or maybe you have a small team.

Time and money is tight, right? The truth is, you won’t have the time to manage all of your different social media profiles. Isn’t maintaining one hard enough? I think so!

Imagine this…once you’re onto your 3rd, 4th or 5th project everything will be 5 x harder to manage.

Or, most likely you will leave behind an increasing number of Facebook Pages, Twitter accounts, and blogs gathering internet cobwebs.

Not the greatest impression of you or your fabulous creation…

You might think that the community you attract to your project will, over time, spiral to a point where it maintains itself, but in reality that rarely happens (if ever!) without continued effort and input from you.

Or, maybe you’re thinking;

‘The more social profiles, websites, and internet spaces I have, the wider my reach!’

But really, not only is that hard work for you, it’s hard on the audience you are trying to attract too.

Seriously, having multiple social media accounts actually works against you.

Instead of broadening your reach it dilutes your power and causes confusion.

Your peeps aren’t sure which of your profiles they should be connecting with. Plus, they’re not entirely sure what you do or what you are creating because they can’t see the whole picture.

Fact: People are busy, they skim read, dip in / out, and unless they’re a rabid Belieber-type fan they’re not going to spend their precious time hunting you down in every crevice of the internet.

On the other hand, if you are representing all of your creations (or products or services) from one profile, you are projecting and interacting from one central space giving your message more power.

People will know where to connect with you to hear about all of your projects. It doesn’t matter if you have diverse audiences – you can appeal to them all because they’re as interested in you as the creator as they are the products you create.

Think for a minute about celebrity film directors like Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg. They have their own army of fans because of the body of work they create. This army then become fans of each of their individual projects.

The directors draw as much attention as the actors who play the heroes and villains in the films themselves.

And, what about serial entrepreneur Richard Branson? He hasn’t gone into films (YET!) but has dominated and innovated a variety of industries with his Virgin brand. Representing them all as himself.

With the changing landscape of marketing, it’s becoming as important for the creator themselves to have a solid online presence – so that they build a community of raving fans who will buy their creations.

And, that means stepping into the spotlight to play a central role in your marketing.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a little scary, and there are ALWAYS exceptions, and if there’s a voice inside you squeaking ‘but how do I apply this to me and my business?’ that won’t shut up then I can help. Together, we’ll eliminate your doubt and second-guessing, taking you towards an online fame strategy to increase your profit.

Cool or what?

What do you think?

Is this a dilemma that’s frustrated you? Tell us how you overcame it in the comments below to inspire others. And, if you are successfully managing multiple social media profiles for each of your creations – please share your success secrets too!