Your blog, for the most part, represents you. It represents the stories you tell, the lessons you have learned and the information that you are passing on to others who are reading it. Although you want to make public only things you have approved, social media networks may reveal some of the others.
Rules of Thumb
The different sites have different rules, of course. On Twitter, for example, you retain the rights to any content you submit but by submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant them a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution method. Facebook has similar terms, but adds for content that is covered by intellectual property rights “… you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook.â€
On Your Own
Most of the major social media sites have similar terms and policies which allow you to retain ownership over what you post while letting them do what they want with it, without paying you. A great way to concentrate on your own personal branding is to start a website of your own, which is the perfect home to your blog. This way, you will fully own the property and retain all exclusive rights!
By building your own brand and getting a name you can start your personal branding. Social media is a great way to spread word, but you can limit your usage to focus on a limited audience or the ones you want in your network.