Blog entries February 2012
02/20/2012
Social Media Do's & Don'ts
"Social Media is a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, which allows the creation and exchange of user-generated content." So goes the Wikipedia definition. These include numerous tools the most common include, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. In case you believe social media to be novel to the last few years, let me remind you of the chat rooms and bulletin boards of the 1990's. People have been interacting online for years. They have been making connections to generate both business and friendships, and as humans are destined to do, they have been making potentially indelible mistakes. Whether job hunting or indulging in the latest form of communication keep in mind the following:
Do create an online presence - Pay special attention to LinkedIn. The key to reaching a goal determined by the choice of others (i.e., job offer) is initially dependent on visibility and when conducting a LinkedIn search it is imperative that you show your skills. We all need to be perceived as contemporary with an understanding of state of the art communications and LinkedIn is the most important tool.
Do include a photo - Whether Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, as a professional, I believe in including a professional-looking photo. You need not have paid for an executive portrait but don't include a photo of your pet on a LinkedIn profile. Facebook and Twitter can include more causal appearances. Putting a face with words brings back the human element to a cold white screen.
Do be careful what you say - Ok. We are finally learning not to post, "I hate my job," but too many times, especially on Twitter, when we have had a long day and can share with a client, the wrong things may come out. We all have bad days and negative thoughts, but once they're on the record of a Tweet or a Facebook post, they may be difficult to remove. We are told to be careful about your Facebook privacy settings. Security folks will remind you that nothing on the Internet is ever totally private. Tweets show up on Google searches!
Don't live on social media - There is a sense of community on Twitter and Facebook, and Twitter allows you to communicate in near real time. Partnerships, friendships and even personal relationships are occurring from social media. If you are job hunting and feeling estranged, it can be very tempting to spend your hours on social media, lost in distraction. My biggest weakness is You Tube. Too many times have I become lost in old songs and tutorials. So while social media needs to be a part of your diet the real world will always be the best destination.
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Janice Worthington