My Best Advice About Social Networking
If one understands the way social networks can deliver value, they have the opportunity to do more for themselves than ever before. What used to be a fairly linear world, one with ladders to climb rank, and lines to wait in for limited resources, are now built of vast and flexible networks, some loose and some rigid. Our social networks, both the old-fashioned type in real life, as well as the new constructs created by social software, give us the ability to do amazing things for ourselves and for others. But it does require some thought and consideration. Here are some ideas for you to use as springboards.
My Best Advice About Social Networking
- Will Companies Value Your Personal Network?
- The Vital Importance of Your Network
- What does Facebook actually DO for me?
- Facebook Could Get Really Creepy
- Threading the Social Needle
- Social Networks- Time to Specialize
- Starting Points for Online Presence
- The Way Today’s Web Changes Things
- The Value of Networks
- Social Networking Features are Toilets
Photo credit, Spigoo
Write Your LinkedIn Profile for Your Future
I was speaking to one of the best upcoming tech bloggers the other day about LinkedIn, and how I view it. To me, LinkedIn isn’t a place to dump a snapshot of where you’ve been. It’s an opportunity to stay connected to people, and to demonstrate where you are now, and where you plan to go next. To that end, I’ve got a little advice for you to consider applying to your own profile.
Write Your LinkedIn Profile For Your Future
First Impressions
First, your headline matters. It’s what people see when they accept your invite, and it’s probably the fastest first impression one receives. If you work for a company, put that name in the headline. When I don’t see a company name, I wonder if you’re solo.
Your Summary
Here’s where I think the most work can be done. When I look at my profile, I think it’s a bit long, but otherwise, I’ve done the following:
- Lead with what I do most.
- Lead with the type of business I want to do.
- Move into the reasons why you’d do business with me.
- Move from there into all the nuances of what I do.
In every case within the summary, your plan should be to write from the mindset of the prospective employer (or client), such that when they read it, they think, “I need to hire this person.”
Tip: refresh your summary every two weeks.
Your Work Experience
Here, I do something you might not expect. I make sure my past experience still supports my current and future aspirations. I write the past work experience summary to highlight those functions I performed that will still be useful to the current and future goals. Why? Because if you’re still reading that far down my summary, you want to kick the tires a little on my experience.
Tip: Refresh your past work experience sections every four weeks or so.
Power Moves: Recommendations
Ask people for recommendations. Be smart about it, though. Ask people who can vouch for your abilities.
I receive a few requests for recommendations a week from people I know from Twitter. I’m sorry, but I can’t really vouch for you. And this, to me, the reputation engine part of LinkedIn, is the most important part of the product. I will only recommend people that I would hire for myself, or that I would work for. At the time of this writing (August 2008), I’ve written 146 recommendations.
In both cases, I feel that recommendations are powerful.
What’s Next?
A list of next steps:
- Review your LinkedIn profile. Look at it as if you’re a prospective new boss, or a client. Would you hire YOU to do something? If not, rewrite it. Keep it tight. Do as much editing as you can.
- Enter your blog’s RSS feed on the profile page. People want more color.
- Add a photo. Not one of those weird grown up versions of a school class picture. Find a good candid. If you don’t have one, go to a social media meetup. Someone will snap you a good one. Worried about discrimination? Guess what: they’ll figure it out eventually. Get it out of the way up front.
- Start writing quality recommendations for people you can vouch for. If they can do the same for you, ask for one back. If not, hold off. No sense making someone feel awkward.
- Grow your network. LinkedIn and I don’t agree on this. I say connect to whoever. It helps you build a network. (I only recommend people I can vouch for, and to me, that’s where who you know or don’t know really matters).
- Keep looking at your profile as it applies to your future.
My own LinkedIn profile is here. If you want to connect, I use linkedin at chrisbrogan dot com as my address.
And you? What’s worked well for you?
The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by [chrisbrogan.com] for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters.
Get the entire series by subscribing to this blog, and subscribe to my free newsletter here.
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The Vital Importance of Your Network
Back in June, I wrote about whether companies will value your personal network. It’s a topic I think about constantly because I’ve seen time and time again the value of my own network. I use some amount of that value every day. And I spend a portion of each day threading the social needle.
Two great posts over the last few days show me that it’s not just me thinking about this. Tim Sanders says we should refresh our network often, and Jeremiah Owyang reports on the the risks and opportunities inherent in your network. It’s all pointing towards the same thing: you’ve got to think consciously about how you use social networks, and you have to build relationships that are decoupled from goals.
Keep Your Network Alive
Christopher S Penn quotes me all the time in presentations on my saying, “You live or die by your database.” Remember that I do lots of events, and that’s partially why I say that, but it’s also true for people in all areas of business. Think about this:
If you lose your job today, how many people can you reach, and who would be helpful? Think harder about the names of those people. Have you talked with them lately in ANY form?
How do you stay connected to your network’s news? Do you watch the news stream on LinkedIn? Do you watch the updates on Facebook, Friendfeed, and other social networks? 20 minutes or less on these platforms often gives you some interesting pieces of information, and might sometimes prompt a message out to people in your network.
Some practices to consider:
- Spend 20 minutes a day observing your network. If someone is mostly offline and not a social network user, spend a few minutes sending out a few “checking in” emails to get a read on her world.
- Spend 10 minutes a day (I spend a bit more here) cultivating new relationships. This can be through participation on social networks, through reading new blogs and commenting, through, attending face-to-face events, or many other things. If you’re not growing your network, you’re stagnating.
- Use an organized contact management system, but also keep frequent backup copies of those system’s files in CSV or XLS form somewhere safe. (Meaning, don’t trust online platforms 100% with your data). I’m using BatchBook right now (disclosure: they gave me a complementary license for a review, but they’re still inexpensive, even if you pay).
- Never, never, never pound that list of names with dumb jokes, updates about your life (unless it’s something insanely profound), or other clutter. Try not to message everyone ever. Instead, segment information such that you talk to the people that matter to the topic at hand.
- Deliver two to three times as much value as you ask from your network. This keeps people eager to be helpful when the time comes that you need them.
- Never make a huge deal out of helping others in your network.
- It’s okay to say no (politely!) to requests for access through your network, should you be concerned about the intent of the person asking.
Tell Me About Your Network
How has your network impacted the way you live or conduct business? Do you belong to any networks, online or off, that have driven value back to you? (My CEO is a Harvard Business School graduate and the database he can touch is astounding.) How are you keeping your database fresh and vibrant?
And finally, are you living your online life consciously with regards to building and maintaining a meaningful network?
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The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by [chrisbrogan.com] for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters.
Get the entire series by subscribing to this blog, and subscribe to my free newsletter here.
Photo credit, ladybug 78
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You Need to Be Easy
I’m perpetually baffled when I see websites that don’t give me a sense of the human being behind them. I receive business cards by the ton at conferences, and I’m surprised when they don’t offer a great deal of value per square inch of paper. In fact, my own personal business cards don’t offer enough value, so they will be replaced eventually. People of Earth: make it easy for others to reach you and communicate with you.
About Pages
On your About page on your website, have a blurb about the company, if you have to, but then follow it up with a human, preferably with a picture. For every “we” site, you now need a “me” person on the site. Why? Because we do business with PEOPLE, not with corporations. The corporations give us branding and other legal constructs, but we buy from humans.
What’s important to go on that page otherwise? Two things: why should people care about you is the first. Second, here’s a hint: how do you want people to do business with you? What kind of business do you hope they do with you? (By the way, upon reviewing my About page, I’ll rewrite it tonight or tomorrow).
Business Cards
I think business cards need to be informative over clever. Clever is nice, and cheap is still icky, but if you’re not giving people enough queues about yourself, your business, your locale, and your contact particulars, it’s not going to get you to the dance. What should go on cards these days?
- Name
- Title (clever is okay, but remember this is another judgment someone is making about you)
- Company Name (if there is one; if not, be you).
- Phone number, specifically the one you hope people will call you on. I use my cell.
- Email address. New world or not, email is still the way we tend to message folks.
- Company URL (if you have such a thing)
- Blog URL - this becomes more important these days, because you want to show your humanity, and/or what’s on your mind.
- City/Town and State/Province information. I never used to have this on my cards, and even though I like being virtual, it seems that when professionals are looking at my cards, they follow up by asking where I work. When I show them my CrossTech Media cards, they immediately ask me where Canton is in regards to Boston. So that tells me they’re trying to anchor me in space.
- Maybe a tagline about the kind of business you want to do with people.
What’s Your Take?
I’m curious to know what you think about this? How are you framing your about pages and your business cards? Are you easy?
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Make Your LinkedIn Profile Work for You
LinkedIn is a professional network built around one’s employment capabilities. It is often referred to (I believe somewhat incorrectly) as an online version of your CV or resume. People who use LinkedIn expertly, like Christopher S. Penn, will be the first to say that this service is sorely underrated as a place to develop business, grow your capabilities, and promote your projects and opportunities. Here are some thoughts on amping up your LinkedIn presence.
Write to be Read
The first horror show I see when reading other people’s LinkedIn profiles is that they’re written completely dry, as if robots are the only thing that will read them. Though one should write with robots in mind, this is still a human network, so write as if you want someone to actually read your profile. Here’s the first paragraph of my summary:
I show businesses how to use social media technologies for external community building and outreach, and for internal collaboration. I have over 10 years experience with social media and 16 years experience in enterprise computing environments. I blend emerging tech knowledge with enterprise culture understanding.
You can tell what I do, have a sense of what I’m hoping you want from me, and get a hint at my unique value proposition to businesses on this regard. It’s not the best paragraph ever written, but it’s definitely clear in explaining my core interests.
Make your summary explain, succinctly, why someone would want to tap your shoulder for business. If you’re not sure why, that’s another matter altogether. Read it aloud a few times to see how it sounds.
Make Your Job Descriptions Work Two Ways
I want people who read my profile to see that I’m happily employed, that I work for a “real” company, and that my company has capabilities in certain areas. If you work for yourself, be clear about that, too. There’s no shame in being a solo operator. Just be clear that you’ve chosen to build a profile to signal your professional capabilities, and write it in such a way that people understand where you sit.
Further, make sure that when people read your job description, they are thinking about how to put you to work on their issues. I state my company’s primary functions in the first sentence of my current role, so that people can see what I’m bringing to the table alongside my own personal skills. Thus, my job description states what I’m doing, but also what I can do.
Recommendations are Your Friends
I ask for recommendations all the time. I’m not shy about it. Why? Because I want other people’s words to guide you to choosing me for your business needs. I want you not to have to take my word for it, but instead, to know what others have to say. Don’t be shy about this, but also be very realistic about asking for recommendations.
I will not recommend people whose professional work I’m not familiar with enough to suggest to a close, personal friend. I’m willing to “friend” anyone, but I only recommend people I can vouch for professionally.
Connection Strategies
LinkedIn has an official opinion on connecting up with others. They recommend that you only connect with people you know well personally. You’re welcome to take their opinion on that.
I’ve chosen to accept with anyone who connects with me, and I’ve only had to drop one person ever for abusing that connection. Why? Because in my view, expanding my network means that you will find the person you need by searching through my network, and that I, at least in theory, can help you get to the person you need for your business efforts.
Your mileage may vary. I will do it my way, as most folks who connect with me eventually come calling to reach someone else that I’ve added, and I feel good every time I can be helpful.
Some Last Thoughts
- Check your contact settings. Be explicit about who you want connecting with you.
- Consider putting up a photo.
- Use the groups features and find groups where you might want to contribute.
- Participate in the Q&A function to share your expertise (it’s like free advertising, when done tastefully).
- Update at least every three months. Your role has changed. Make sure your profile reflects that.
For the bonus round, I recommend staying up to date via LinkedIn’s community superhero, Mario Sundar.
What about you? Any other advice you’d offer to others?
The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by [chrisbrogan.com] for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters.
Get the entire series by subscribing to this blog, and subscribe to my free newsletter here.
Using Social Networking and Media Offline
A great friend of mine mentioned that all my social media stuff was great, but that he was frustrated because a lot of his constituency wasn’t particularly connected to the Net, and didn’t really use computers too often. It came to me pretty quickly that computers really aren’t a hard and fast requirement for attempting to get the same results I often preach about. In fact, it kind of opened my own eyes, too.
Social Networking Online to Off
Online: Status message like in Twitter or Facebook.
Offline: Quick phone call to see if someone’s going to be at an event.
Online: Blog post.
Offline: Letter or newsletter.
Online: Friending.
Offline: Meeting new people at networking events.
Social Media Online to Off
Online: Flickr.
Offline: Mail some photos to people.
Online: Podcasts.
Offline: Mail them a CD.
You Get the Point
Essentially, you can do most of what you do online in the offline setting. It just takes a little longer and is a little less convenient. And yet, the MOTIVATION behind what we do in the social networking space can be carried forth, and probably would help us a bit.
Agree? Silly? What’s your take?
The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by [chrisbrogan.com] for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters.
Get the entire series by subscribing to this blog, and subscribe to my free newsletter here.
Photo Credit, LiberalMind1012
Five Things to Do at a Social Networking Meetup
Meetups are the online manifestation of our social networking efforts. With Twitter and Upcoming.org and Facebook and all the other social networks, putting together a bunch of like-minded people is relatively simple. You find a venue that doesn’t mind a bunch of nerds, preferably with a place you can be loud (because social media types are often the loudest bunch in there, unless there’s a bachelorette party), and hopefully some delightful libations to ease social interaction. But what do you DO there, once you’ve walked in and identified that you’re in the right place. Here’s a recipe:
Say Hi to Your Known Friends
Often times, someone at the meetup is known to you. Make sure you say hi to them earlier in the night than later. I’m working on this one, because sometimes, what happens is that I’ll be somewhere with friends, and never get over to see them because time gets eaten up so fast. I’m going to make a point of saying hi to my longer-known friends first at meetups, so that they feel acknowledged.
Find the New People
Look for folks who might be new to your local scene, or that you haven’t met before, and introduce yourself. My favorite opening line is to ask them what they normally do when they’re not hanging out with a bunch of Twitter geeks. If that doesn’t work, I like to ask people about their passions.
Don’t Crowd Surf Too Much
There’s a tendency that’s easy to follow to just flit between crowds. It’s not a wedding. You don’t have to hit every table. If you find something interesting, don’t be afraid to dive deep into the conversation for a bit. Get into some deeper waters with people, because otherwise, time will wash over you like a wave and you’ll be out without much to show for it.
If You Need to Do Business
Try to think of these meetups as a first date. Don’t put your tongue down our throats. In other words, if you’re there fishing for new business, play it cool, and be part of the gang. Talk about what’s relative, and don’t swerve things instantly into your line of business and how you can help (sell) us. However, it’s okay to say that you’re hoping to build business relationships or the like. Just make that for a follow-up conversation.
Talk About Something New
Whenever possible, come with some really neat new idea to throw into the mix. Think of it as mental show and tell. Or hell, do real world show and tell if you’ve got a nifty new something to show people. But consider bringing something new to the meetup. It will enrich everything. (Don’t force it into the conversation, but have something new in mind.)
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What do YOU do at meetups to make them better, more interesting, a reflection of the value of real space versus online social networking? Tell us about your favorite meetups, or things that you’ve seen happen that you liked.
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The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by [chrisbrogan.com] for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters.
Get the entire series by subscribing to this blog, and subscribe to my free newsletter here.
