This article was written by Chris Tompkins

I often notice individuals jumping headfirst into online marketing, whether it be social networks, blogs, micro-blogs (like Twitter) and other online channels. The main issue with this strategy is that many times their shared communications seem canned, the tone is a bit off, the message is not cohesive and the approach, at times, can be rather aggressive.

You know who they are.  When you encounter someone like this, you say things like: “Why are you just barging into my universe?” “Stop selling to me!” “Spammer!”

It isn’t just you. A lot of people feel the same way.  And, in the online world, they shout it so everyone can hear. Loudly.

First things first: the wonderful world of online marketing is different than the wonderful world of traditional marketing. Although they have many things in common (target markets, messages, distribute collateral, market research), the approach is vastly different.

The difference is that social networks and online communications are not just pushing the message through the channel.  Instead, they are about building relationships and having conversations. Read that sentence again. Relationships and conversations.

With that in mind, here are two steps you need to follow to stay in the game. If you have been entrenched in social media marketing for quite some time, then these tips will keep you fresh. Brand new and desperate to see what everyone is talking about? These two resolutions should help you enter the online marketplace with more ease.

Step 1:  Listen, Watch and Monitor the Activity Before Joining the Discussion

The mistake many of us make is that we don’t listen before we leap. Our gut instinct is to stick to the same communication style as our email blasts, corporate website or our “business speak.”

I’m not saying its a bad way to go, but if you are going to talk that way then you better make make sure everyone else is speaking your language.

Go to sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook and look around. Go into the groups section on LinkedIn and Facebook and use the search function to find groups relevant to your professional interests. Look at the discussion topics, how people are conversing in each topic, and check the level of activity. Anyone providing links to video or audio? Click, watch and listen.

Also, LinkedIn and Facebook have a main micro-blog wall (they call it “Status Updates”). See how people are interacting, watch how they speak.

Twitter is more tricky; my tip is to download TweetDeck. It is a third party platform that helps you listen in a fast and efficient way. You can search for people talking about relevant topics to your business, your company and even you! Before you send out your first “tweet”, check out TweetDeck and size up the playing field.

Step 2: Plan Before You Dive

If you are going to begin engaging with the global online audience, it’s important to get your act together first. Stop and think for a minute. Would you execute a branding or PR initiative without at least a plan outline?

Sit down and identify what you want to get out of this. This can be the hardest step. Without full knowledge about what you can expect, it is hard to identify what your goals should even be. My advice is to be realistic, honest and take into consideration what the medium is all about. If you are thinking about SEO, direct response advertising or pay-per-click Google ads, then you will think in terms of hits to your online point-of-sale. The social media market has elements of this, but the purpose is to position yourself as an expert, increase visibility to you and your brand, build relationships that will in turn build your business and more.

Think about your purpose, your field of expertise and what value you can offer to others. Once you pinpoint that, you can identify the sites you want to focus on, the methods you want to employ and targets you want to hit.

Wrap it up

I really can’t stress how important it is to take the time to check out the playing field before you jump in headfirst. I think the real point here is that you wouldn’t sink $100,000 in a direct marketing initiative without making sure of the integrity of the mailing list. You would never spend $15,000 a week on an English speaking call center who is calling a Spanish speaking market.

At the end of the day it is Marketing 101. Learn where your market is, what they are saying and then plan how you are going to join the conversation. Then start talking.

.

Chris is the CEO of Go! Media International, LLC – an integrated marketing firm specializing in cutting edge social media strategy and online marketing campaigns. Chris is a fundamental supporter of education in the online marketing technology sector (for companies and individuals) and speaks at national and international conferences alike. If you’d like to find out more, visit his blog or follow him on Twitter.

*Photo by Watje11

Ah yes, LinkedIn.  The word (or is it a phrase?) sends shivers down the spines of many, including people who use it often.  Some say LinkedIn is too complicated and others say it doesn’t yield results.  I’d say both types of people are wrong.

I’m going to give you seven surefire (and easy!) methods to building your network through LinkedIn.  How do I know they’re surefire?  I’ve used them and they worked.

There is no need to be afraid of LinkedIn once you know it’s possible to grow your network and circle of influence.  If I’m giving you the secrets…why not give them a try?

1.  Join a group.

This is probably the easiest way to grow your network on LinkedIn.  There is a group for everything imaginable – Toastmasters, Los Angeles, Harry Potter, Google Buzz.  You name it, there is a group for it on LinkedIn.  If there isn’t a group, create one!  When you’re part of a group, you will meet people with similar interests and your network will grow automatically.  Cool deal, huh?

2.  Post a thread to a group.

Once you’ve joined your group, strike up a conversation.  Make sure that you create a conversation with useful and valuable content.  Don’t just say, “Hey, what’s up?”  No one will respond.  If someone does, they probably aren’t worth having in your network.  If someone comments on your post, make sure you reply to them.  Conversation builds rapport and solid rapport can lead to a great professional relationship.

3.  Respond to a post by someone else.

Can’t think of anything to post as a new topic thread?  Easy enough.  Respond to an existing thread.  Once again, make sure you’re posting useful information.  Don’t simply agree with a statement that has been made.  If you agree, explain why.  If you don’t, state your opinion.  You begin to show you care about others when you weigh in on their topic of conversation.  When people know you care, you build your network and your trust.

4.  Search for people.

Searching for people is a great way to connect because it put you in the driver’s seat.  First, decide who you want to find.  How about current co-workers?  Maybe your boss from your last job?  How about people in your local area?  There is pretty much an endless scope of people you could locate on LinkedIn.  Find someone you know (or would like to know) and dive right in.

5.  Import your email contacts.

The ability to import email contacts into LinkedIn is awesome.  If you use your email address book a lot, this is a nice way to connect with people who you already email regularly.  LinkedIn will locate your contacts, find the people who have active LinkedIn accounts, and will allow you to invite others to join the site.  It’s a quick and easy way to grow your network.

6.  Advertise on other social networking profiles.

Whether you’ve been a LinkedIn member for five minutes or five months, it’s still good to advertise your LinkedIn existence on your other social networking profiles.  I know that there are a lot of friends on my Facebook page that I wouldn’t mind creating a “professional connection” with on LinkedIn.  Don’t just find others; have them find you.

7.  Spread the verbal word.

I know, it’s old school but it still works.  I drop the “L” word (or is a phrase?) in conversation a few times a week to see who uses LinkedIn and who doesn’t.  This method has actually led me establish quite a few connections and the results continue to grow.  At times, nothing beats good ol’ fashion yapping.

Now that you know seven ways to build your LinkedIn network, you should begin to establish connections on a regular basis.  Make sure that your connections are valuable; don’t just connect with people to raise the number displayed in your profile.  In social networking, and especially LinkedIn, it’s not the quantity of your connections, it’s the quality of your connections.

If you’d like, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by juliaf

by Deborah Richmond

LinkedIn for B2Bs: Fish from the Right Pond

Some B2B (Business to Business) companies are reticent to adopt social media for business.  To them it seems unproductive and silly.  They don’t see where the business benefit is in putting themselves out there on display.  If you are one of these doubters, you are likely missing out on some great opportunities to connect to people who can help you and your business thrive.
LinkedIn is a great place to get your feet wet with online networking, particularly if you are a B2B.  This network was designed for professionals.  It’s more than just a place to put your resume’.  LinkedIn is a place to meet business people in your industry. It’s a place to share ideas, be recommended by people who have worked with you, and build relationships with other businesses who might be in need of your products or services.

If you’re someone who networks in your community, LinkedIn can make your networking time more valuable. When I attend a networking event, I come back to the office, pull out the business cards I’ve been given, and look up the people I just met at the luncheon or mixer.  If they are on LinkedIn, I ask them to connect to me. This accomplished two things at once. It is a follow-up greeting to new acquaintances, letting them know, yes, I’m interested in you and your company.  The second thing this accomplishes is that it grows my online network.

No More Cold Calls

When someone connects to you, take the time to look through their connections. With LinkedIn, you can focus on exactly the target audience you want. First invite friends, colleagues and existing customers to connect to you . You might also find people who could be a great contact for you. For instance, when I look through other people’s connections, I sometimes find they know the marketing directors of local companies. If there comes a time when I’m looking to connect with local companies, I can ask my friend for an introduction.  There is no doubt that a personal introduction is better than a cold call any day.

Get Started

If you’re ready to get your feet wet in social media, create an account on LinkedIn, start to fill out your profile. Remember, you don’t have to stick to resume’ language.  People want to get to know you. Be sure to include interesting information about yourself. For instance, in the summary section, don’t just put your title. Use this area to describe what you do in a way that is interesting to the people you would like to influence.  Include a photo in your profile. This allows people to get a better sense of who you are.

Take Action

Once on LinkedIn, join a couple groups. The discussion areas are a great place to meet new people who have interesting ideas and similar interests.  LinkedIn members are eager to converse in these areas. When I leave a comment in a discussion, I often receive requests from other commenters to join their connections.   Your LinkedIn strategy can be as simple as showing up a few times a week and commenting on a discussion or two while you are there.  This allows you to build your connections and to further relationships with people in your target audience.

Bottom Line

You already know the value of networking. Every day more business people are joining these online networks. These are your potential customers and they’re waiting for you. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect.

.

Deborah Richmond is a owner of Tekkbuzz and author of Pump Up Your Profits with Social Marketing. For free information on how to use social media to market your business, check out Deborah’s free advice on the Tekkbuzz Blog.

*Photo by fcd

LinkdIn is a great resource for professional networking.  The site includes standard social networking features, such as status updates, biography information, and groups, but it also has a unique component – the ability to give and receive recommendations.  When you connect with colleagues or friends on LinkedIn, you have the chance to put in a good word for someone who has proven themselves to be a hard worker.  Your recommendation is displayed on the user’s profile for others to see.

This type of feature is very beneficial when you are attempting to build up a professional portfolio.  Each recommendation gives insight into your work ethic, personality, and ability to complete a task.  If you are intending to change jobs any time soon, this would be a great feature to utilize and display in case potential employers stumble upon your profile.

Once a person has grasped the power of the recommendation feature on LinkedIn, they tend to request recommendations from every one of their connections.  Their hope is to build a profile that is bursting at the seams with praise, adoration, and respect in order to make themselves look good.  Unfortunately, this probably isn’t going to happen.  There is no Recommendations Race.  In fact, recommendations on LinkedIn are genuine sentiments reflecting outstanding work ethic, not another notch on a belt.

After realizing the real purpose for recommendations, it is time to explore the feature further.  Let’s start by recommending one of your connections.  In order to do this, follow the following steps:

• Log in to LinkedIn
• Input the name of the person you would like to recommend in the search box near the top of the page
• Select “Recommend this person” on the right side of the page
• Choose your type of relationship with that person and click “Go”
• Select the appropriate responses to the questions in the “Relationship” section
• Write your recommendation in the text box near the bottom of the page

Wow, that was pretty easy – or was it?

The point-and-click navigation to complete a written recommendation is quite simple but the process of writing the recommendation can be difficult.  What tense do you write it in?  What do you say?  How long should it be?

When you write a LinkedIn recommendation, speak as if you were bragging about the person you’re recommending not as if you’re talking to them.  For example, I wouldn’t write directly to my connection by saying “You are a hard worker.”  I would brag about him and say “Jim is a hard worker.”  Remember, other people will be reading these recommendations so, technically, you are bragging.

As far as content is concerned, there are no restrictions or limitations.  Be professional and be truthful.  If Jim only outperformed the other members of the sales task force by $2,000, don’t say it was $20,000.  The person you are recommending will be displaying your reference on their profile and they probably don’t want to tell lies to potential employers.

If possible, keep your recommendation short and to the point.  Don’t explain the task your contact was working on, just explain that they worked diligently.  It is safe to say that your recommendation should be no longer than five or six sentences.

If you would like to request a connection to write a recommendation for you, walk through the following steps:

• Roll over the “Profile” option on the top menu
• Select “Recommendations”
• Locate the position you’d like to be recommended for and click “Ask to be endorsed”
• Type the names of the people you’d like to receive recommendations from in the “Your connections:” box
• Compose your message to your connections (LinkedIn displays a template message you can use if you’d like)
• Click “Send”

Once your contacts have recommended you, an email will be sent to your inbox alerting you.  At that point, you can choose to accept or deny the recommendation and if you’d like the recommendation displayed on your profile.

LinkedIn recommendations are a great way to share positive experiences for workers that go above and beyond what is expected of them.  Be sure to recommend colleagues or friends that have exhibited a great work ethic.  Who knows, they might recommend you in return!

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by soopahtoe

You aren’t alone.  Maintaining a fresh and updated social network is hard, even for people who live and breathe social media.  It’s tough to stay connected with your current friends or followers and still branch out to meet new people.

Even though it’s a tough task to conquer, there are a few ways you can expand your network with little to no effort.  One of the most efficient ways that I have found to branch out to others is through LinkedIn Groups.

LinkedIn Groups have a simple concept – collaboration and networking – and it is easy to join a group and interact with other group members.  There is a LinkedIn Group for nearly every subject or hobby so you won’t need to dig deep to find a group that fits your needs or expertise.  Once you are approved for a group, you have free reign to respond and create various topics and threads.  Easy, huh?

Simple Math

I have always thought that groups on social networking sites were for the birds.  How can they help me connect with others?  What point do they serve?  Well, the math for creating successful networking is simple…

Easy-to-use Platform + Common Interest + Conversation = Consistent Networking

LinkedIn Groups follows this basic line of thinking.

Easy-to-use Platform

Websites such as Facebook and Greenlight Community are great websites.  They serve a purpose and connect people together.  However, they do not have easy-to-use group functionality.  In fact, they are tough to manage and maintain.

On the flip side, LinkedIn Groups is a platform that is designed for efficiency and ease.  As I stated earlier, LinkedIn Groups function through conversations, or threads, which have been started by group members or the group admin.  Group members are not forced to talk about a certain topic or thread.  In fact, you can talk about whatever you’d like in relation to the topic of your group.

Common Interest

There is rarely downtime in a LinkedIn Group.  If a member is not starting a new thread, a current topic is being discussed.  The reason why there is no downtime is because everyone has a shared interest.  Without a shared interest, group members would be fishing for topics of conversation.  However, since each member knows that everyone has a common interest, there is a starting point for conversation.

Conversation

The conversation that takes place on some group websites is forced.  Topics of conversation are decided by the admin, new topics are not posted regularly, and no one thoroughly exhausts a topic.  LinkedIn Groups are different.

In LinkedIn Groups, a user can decide if they’d like to respond to a created topic or they can create their own.  This choice empowers the group member.  With this sense of empowerment, a group member remains dedicated to the conversation and routinely follows up with the other topic participants.

Consistent Networking

All of the components described in this article add up to create consistent networking.  With a platform that is easily managed, a common interest, and limitless conversation topics, LinkedIn Groups is a place that can help you grow and develop your network into more than you hoped.

Remember, when it comes down to the 11^th hour, it isn’t what you know.  Instead, it’s whom you know.  If you regularly manage and create connections via LinkedIn Groups, you will have a network that supports you.  Who doesn’t want that kind of network?

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Thomas Hawk

In the past it has been difficult to keep up with what is being said about your company.  Before the digital age, the only way to find out what was being said about your brand was to overhear it or hire someone to get the scoop.  With the Internet and advanced searching capabilities, acquiring the lowdown on your business is easy.  For example, Google Alerts can generate some great information and regularly scanning online forums can prove to be helpful.  Now, LinkedIn has developed a useful application to aide you in getting the skinny on your company.

LinkedIn’s “Company Buzz” application is a tool that displays real-time tweets relating to your company (or other search term).  Also, the tool allows you to see historical plots of your search term and receive the most popular words associated with your topic.  For example, if I searched “Folk Media” using the application, I would be able to see real-time tweets that included my search term, a graph of the history of “Folk Media,” and words that are associated with my search query, such as “awesome,” and “useful.”

In a nutshell, “Company Buzz” can allow for you to know what is being said about your company, product, or industry in an instant.

Adding “Company Buzz”

Installing the application is pretty simple.  First, sign into your LinkedIn account and scroll over the “More…” menu at the top of the screen.  Once the options have appeared, select “Applications Directory.”

After arriving at the Applications Directory, locate the “Company Buzz” application description and click on the title.  On the right hand side of the screen you will see the “Application Info” section.  Click the “Add application” button at the bottom of this section. (For the purposes of this walkthrough, it doesn’t matter if you display the application on your LinkedIn homepage.)

The Lay of the Land

After selecting the “Add application” button, the application should load.  In the future, you can get back to this screen by rolling over the “More…” menu at the top of the screen and selecting “Company Buzz.”

Before we begin a new search, let’s take a look at the layout of the page.  You will notice there are a few section on the right side of the page.  The first section is the “Search” feature.  As the name implies, this is where you would enter your search query.

The next section is “Followed Topics.”  LinkedIn automatically displays these topics based on your profile settings.  You will most likely notice your employers (both past and present) and educational institutions listed here.  You can manage these topics by clicking the “Manage” link in the upper right corner of the section.

Below “Followed Topics” you will see “Buzz Words.”  This is the section that will display the most common words associated with your search term.  The last section, “Trends,” will display a graph of how popular your search term has been in the last week.

Putting it to Good Use

If you do not use another application or service to monitor your brand on Twitter, this is a great place to start.  It is essential that you are aware of what is being said about your company, product, or competition so you can adjust your marketing strategy appropriately.  There is a significant chance that Twitter users will complain or acclaim your product before major media outlets do so you want to be on top of the most recent results for your searches.  Remember, the easier you can address any urgent issues, the easier it will be to put out the fire or fan the flame.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by: Brajeshwar

Using social media to find a job online can seem like a dark art. To some it comes easier than others. But there is power in using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools when searching for a job.

We put together a 5-part series on using social media to find a better job that lays out some basics.

• Have A Personal Website Or Blog – The first step to find a better job online is to create and maintain a personal website and presence. We recommend using a free blog to get started.
• Make Yourself Seen Online – Your career is now in your hands. You can make or break your own success by how you use or don’t use free online tools to get the edge on your competition.
• Expand Your Network Before You Need It – If you are looking for a better job, there has never been a better time to expand your network. Start now and use the free social media tools available.
• Connect Offline – Learn to use social media tools during your offline networking and job hunting and you will set yourself up for success.
• Help Others Get Jobs – You will get what you want (a better job) if you help enough people get what they want.

There you have it. Do you have anything you think is critical to job hunting success with social media? Let us know.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.

.

Zig Ziglar has a very famous quote:

“You Can Only Get What You Want, If You Help Enough Other People Get What They Want.”

Helping other people is good

Not only is it a nice thing to do, but when you help other people you increase your own personal value.

Think about it.

Don’t you remember all the people in your life who helped you get where you are today? Remember that person who introduced you to your current spouse or employer? You value those people because they gave you something.

Of course, when you help people you can also expect the law of reciprocity to take over. By doing something nice for someone they are very likely to help you. But this shouldn’t be your sole motivation to be helpful. Just be helpful.

As a side benefit to helping people online, you will leave a digital legacy of your good deeds. When you leave feedback on someone’s LinkedIn profile, they will obvious see it, but so will everyone else that visits their profile.

Act like a headhunter

Headhunters, those people who recruit executives to work for major corporations, get paid a ton of money. This is because they add tremendous value by connecting seasoned professionals with needy organizations. Your goal is to position yourself as a super-connector of people. We already talked about expanding your network before you need it. Acting like a headhunter goes right along with that philosophy.

Begin to seek both professionals and business owners. Look for common needs and make connections where it makes sense. I’ve done this on multiple occasions. I continually “interview” people I work with and figure out their strengths and talents. Recently, a friend of mine who is a CEO, was looking to fill a position at a medium size marketing and communications company. I was able to recommend an excellent staff person who was looking to find a better job.

How does this play into you getting a job?

What goes around comes around. Help enough people and you will really be helping yourself and adding value to the world.

I personally love helping connect employers with potential talent. On multiple occasions headhunters have called me to ask for staff recommendations for their clients. I know a lot of people, particularly in the social media and online marketing industry. So it is easy for me to help connect others.

Start making connections

It goes without saying that you need to know people before you can begin introducing them to each other.

Get to know people. Period.

Start building your network online and off. Connect, share, help, refer and introduce.

Over the next month see how many people you can introduce to others. Also begin recommending people. LinkedIn makes this very easy. You can write recommendations for those who are in your network. Begin making thoughtful recommendations geared toward employment. In other words, write your recommendation for a potential employer to read.

For example, if your connection is marketing professional, talk about how they improved the bottom line of company XYZ and how much they saved in the ad budget using creative PR strategies. Be specific. Don’t just say “Bob is a great coworker and good guy.” that does nothing to actually help Bob.

Also, don’t forget to make recommendations for vendors, customers, and if you are a nonprofit, volunteers.

In addition to making online recommendations, be sure to send an email to all your contacts offering to be a referral if they ever need one.

Action steps

1. Go to LinkedIn and make 5 recommendations today. Be specific. If you did your homework from part 3 of this series then you have already connected with all of your Outlook and email contacts.
2. Repeat step one every day until you’ve recommended every person you’ve ever worked with. Be sure to make the recommendations meaningful and helpful. Don’t recommend someone if you feel that you can’t give them a good recommendation.

Remember, you will get what you want (a better job in this case) if you help other people get what they want. Now go take action and start changing your life.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.

.

We are human after all

Some people fear that social media will replaced face-to-face interaction. Not true. I don’t care how well you can use LinkedIn to find a job or network with people, you still need to connect offline. You know…that place called the “real world.”

Social media has blended the offline and online worlds together. In fact the coming generation of users (those teenagers who know nothing else but the Internet and cell phones) can flow between online and offline technology with ease.

But I’m guessing that if you are reading this, you are very clear on the distinction between the offline and online worlds.

Using social media to connect offline in your job search

Social media can be used to augment your offline experiences. This is a freeing statement for a lot of people who fear they have to be huddled up in a dark basement each night pounding out Twitter messages to faceless followers until 3 AM.

I know of one friend who didn’t understand social media at all until he attended a conference where people were exchanging Twitter handles and LinkedIn Profiles. After the conference ended, he received several connection requests and followers. Social media became real to him after he saw it being using in a real networking environment.

In reality we no longer need business cards. You could in essence write down your Twitter @name or LinkedIn profile URL for people to take and connect with you later. But take it one step further. With the ubiquity of mobile phones, you have the power to connect with someone instantly while they are standing next to you. Simply pull up Twitter on your mobile device and punch in their @username to follow them. Instant connection.

Blending offline and online

Before a job interview, learn about a potential employer by following the company Twitter stream. Watch how frequently they post and how many followers they have can tell you a lot about how savvy they are with using social media tools.

Research your future boss by reading her LinkedIn profile. Most likely your potential boss will be using LinkedIn and have information about her work experience, current job responsibilities and possibly even personal links to blogs or photos. All of this information can help you during a real-life interview.

Also be sure to Google the potential company and people who are hiring you. Remember… your potential employer is also searching for you. They will be searching on Goolge, Twitter, LinkedIn  and other social media accounts. So do some searches of yourself before you go in. If there is anything questionable that comes up, be ready to address it in the interview.

Action Steps

1. Print your Twitter @username and LinkedIn URL on your business cards
2. Ask people you meet for their Twitter handle and use your mobile device to connect with them immediately
3. Use Google, Twitter and LinkedIn to search for your potential employer and company

The offline and online worlds are blending. Learn to use social media tools during your offline networking and job hunting and you will set yourself up for success. Now go take action.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.

.

Expand your network before you need it.

Sounds obvious right? But so many professionals get lazy and wait until they are laid off or out of work to network. Don’t be like one of them. Network now.

Think back to your college days. Remember how many people you met? Many of these people you still know or may even work with. College is a great time to network. Everyone is making big changes in their lives. People are finding themselves, looking for lovers and testing out career options. Everyone in college is networking (even if only for pure social reasons). A few years after college the networking stops. Well almost… there is still the awkward business card exchange at mixers.

In the current economy many have lost their jobs, spouses or worse. People are once again finding themselves and testing out new career options. Add to this the explosion of social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook and…BAM! You have the perfect opportunity as you look for a new job.

The greatest networking opportunity in the history of the world

Just like college, everyone is fighting to reinvent themselves. Right now, there is a brief window in the current economic climate where 95 percent of the working population is VERY open to meeting new business people. Networking is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, and you now have tools to help you do it faster and cheaper.

Tools you say?

Yes. Facebook – LinkedIn – Twitter… among others. You can connect with business people from all over the world from the comfort of your desk. There is NOTHING that can compare to a face-to-face interaction with someone, but don’t overlook the power of social media.

As you begin your new job search, I recommend focusing on two primary social media sites, Facebook and LinkedIn. Both of these sites are useful for networking professionally.

Starting Tips

Chances are you’ve already signed up for one or both of these services. If not, go and do that now. I’ll wait….

Hint: Be sure to use a personal email address to sign up for these services.  You don’t want to get laid off or quit your job in the future and have an account listed under an old work email.

Okay. Good. Now that you’ve created your accounts – be sure to import your email contacts and find other people in your contact list who are using these services. Send all of these people a connection/friend request and begin building your database.

On Facebook, segment your friends into lists so that you can keep your business friends separate from your family and personal friends. This will serve you well later if you want to keep business friends from seeing that photo of you sitting on the floor Christmas morning in your PJs.

Login to your LinkedIn account and search for groups in your industry. Join a few groups and begin entering into some discussions around the topics that you know about.

Action Steps

1. Spend 10 minutes on Facebook organizing your “friends” into lists. For example: “friends,” “family,” “business associates,” “past clients,” “colleagues,” etc.
2. Invite all your Outlook, Yahoo Mail and Gmail contacts to connect with you on LinkedIn.

If you are looking for a better job, there has never been a better time to expand your network. Start now and use the free social media tools available.  Now go take action.

.

Joel Mark Witt is the Publisher of Folk Media and author of 21 Days To Twitter Leadership. He is a producer, author, and speaker who consults with businesses and nonprofits on how to use social media in marketing and communications. Get more from Joel on Twitter.

.