It's all the rage! Social networking ... Twitter ... Facebook ... LinkedIn ... Plaxo ... etc., etc. What does it all mean? How does it impact networking? How much should you put "out there"? Here's a few tips from my own personal perspective:
1. Yes ... you should have a presence in the social networking arena.
2. Don't overwhelm yourself ... pick one to start with and spend some time with it. Choose one that will meet your goals (I spend time with LinkedIn and Facebook).
3. Ask a "Gen Xer" to help you establish your profile and teach you how to navigate the site.
4. Schedule time in your calendar to work the social network environment ... you can't receive any benefit by simply being there ... you've got to use it regularly.
5. LinkedIn can help you view your network's network very quickly ... potentially leading to referrals if you ask your network to make introductions for you.
6. Only connect to people you know... why? ... because when a friend asks you to introduce them to someone in your network ... you CAN because you know that person well.
7. Only put "out there" what you don't mind the world to see ... including your mom and your prospective client.
I'm probably not in the norm ... but in my opinion, social networking is not about numbers. It's about staying connected to people in your life and making them aware of what's happening in your life. It's about helping people in your network to connect to others you know at a faster pace.
Social networking is not going to go away ... so get with the program. I also don't believe social networking will replace face to face networking ... at least in my lifetime!
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