But it is not just websites that are being used to maintain a presence in front of potential customers, social media is increasingly seen as an important way to connect with your clients and the industry.

The likes of Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Google Plus and others allow you to engage with others and demonstrate knowledge within your field by sharing relevant news and other content on a social level.

Social media outlets help you connect with potential new clients and can reinforce current client relationships in a way never experienced by the financial services industry before.

But with so many ways to talk, type or video your thoughts, sometimes it can be all too easy to publish quickly and forget that you are in a business where it can be costly to find yourself damned.

This comprehensive FTAdviser guide tackles what are the regulatory requirements for your business when using social media, what type of messages you should be making, gives examples of social media usage policies and explains the potential benefits and pitfalls of pushing yourself online.

Supporting material from Karen Barrett, chief executive of Unbiased; Stephen Gazard, managing director of Sesame Bankhall Group; Helen Turner, distribution and development director of Tenet; Derek Bradley, chief executive of Panacea Adviser; and Nina Stenning, head of marketing communications at Openwork.