Here’s why you should be careful about Twitter user photo galleries

2. Be careful about the photos that you retweet.

Yes, your image gallery includes images uploaded by other users IF you use the old-style retweet. If you use the new Retweet button, the images won’t appear in your gallery.

3. Be careful about who has access to your Twitter account.

If you’ve assigned Twitter to one of your employees, make sure s/he is aware of the new image galleries and the need to be prudent about what images are posted, retweeted, etc. That’s especially true if you fit this next one….

4. Be careful if you use a Twitter client that offers multi-account management.

I have about 5-6 different accounts setup in Tweetdeck and I occasionally tweet from the wrong account. And there are definitely some tweets (and images) that may be right for one account, but wouldn’t be appropriate for another. If you use a client like that, be careful of posting or retweeting images from your company account.

But There are Pros, Too (That Outweigh the Cons)

First, if you do accidentally post a photo that shouldn’t be in your gallery, you can delete it — so all is not lost the minute an accident happens.

Second, I think the image galleries are ultimately something a small business should try to take advantage of, not fear.

If you’re a restaurant, bakery, winery, landscaping company, salon, printing company, real estate agent or any small business with a visual element to your business, the new image gallery can make a compelling case in your favor if you fill it with good, attractive images.

That’s not to say that your bakery should never post any photos other than the cakes you make. And it’s not to say you can’t have a personality and have fun on Twitter by sharing unique/interesting images — you can.

The bottom line: Just make sure the images you post and share on Twitter give the right impression of your business. Because starting now, they’re being archived for all to see.