Tweet? Friend? Recommend?
As social media has become a regular part of my day, networking with business associates for more speeches and appearances as well as discovering what my friends’ latest antics are, I wonder if it is really worth the time sink it has become. Or the ‘time vampire’ as Charlie the Wonder Husband refers to it.
The answer? Yes!
As a news junkie, I am able to keep up with breaking news and interesting stories on Twitter as well as make professional connections with other speakers and meeting planners.
On Facebook, I can connect with friends and former KLOL fans and let them know I am now a professional motivational business speaker, traveling the country to help others “Find Your Inner Rock Star.”
And LinkedIn? Well, that was the one I was ready to drop, just for the sake of time. Before I hit the delete button, I thought I would ask my social network what they thought. Last Thursday I tweeted “Reasons to stay on LinkedIn?” Answers poured in on both Twitter and Facebook. The consensus? Split right down the middle:
- I’ve reconnected with some very important professional contacts over linked in. You never know who you will find! I don’t do anything social over there, but I do keep my resume up!
- None I can think of other than it is just one more way to connect but at some point the connections overwhelm and complicate more than they help
- It’s all about the groups. There is a great book publishing professionals group.
- I haven’t found any reason yet for LinkedIn. All the connections I have already know me and my business. I take my FB seriously as a business tool and use it for that; I’ve made many more connections and referrals both in and out from here.
- LinkedIn is too boring for me!
- Linkedin’s entire thing is professional networking vs. social networking, and although you can certainly do some of the former on FB, I don’t know too many people who post their resumes or have the ability to search by keywords in resumes or have professional recommends on FB. I’m in my current position because a recruiter saw my profile on Linkedin
- I use it to keep up with where my peeps are working since the economy tanked. There’s been lots of movement and this is the best way I know to stay on top of the career side. Other than that…nada.
- Too many to count! Many more contacts, easier search and even by job title. Events search in your area or others. Love Linkedin
- Not unless you’re a recruiter or involved in recruiting
- LinkedIn’s most valuable feature for me is the discussion groups. I do wish that they didn’t attract so many spammers, though.
- ‘cuz there is no cost…and ya never know.
Not two hours after I considered ending my relationship with LinkedIn, I got a call from a friend’s sister. I had not talked to or communicated with this woman in a couple for years. Seems her company was working a huge government project and they were looking for a PR firm with specific requirements and capabilities. She looked me up on LinkedIn and saw my affiliations in my profile including the fact that I work as a consultant with a large PR firm in the Southwest. She called, I could confirm this PR firm met the requirements they were looking for and made the connection. All because I had my professional affiliations listed and spelled out on LinkedIn.
So, yes, I will stay on LinkedIn for now. Social media is time consuming but so was email and American Idol at first. I have just had to learn to balance it all and still get the job done. And an important part of that job is maintaining relationships.
Relationships are everything and all three – Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn – give me the ability to keep up with those I know, meet new people and keep up with the world. Nothing will ever beat good old-fashioned, face-to-face meetings and personal phone calls, but none of us have the time to meet and talk that much. Social media keeps me, well, social.
So, follow me on Twitter and I’ll follow you. Be my friend on Facebook and post interesting things. (Remember, I don’t care if you eating yogurt or walking the dog. That is not interesting or helpful.) And, post your professional profile on LinkedIn “cuz ya never know.”
Oh and by the way, be sure to Digg this from the share bar below. You don’t Digg? Well, it is another thing to add to your list….
