Tweet?  Friend? Recommend?

Twitter? Facebook? LinkedIn?

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….

To me, both of you are the American Idol.  Hugely talented and from what we all saw on TV, nice guys as well.  I just ran across both of you performing on the streets of NYC – the big press tour.  You both seem to be enjoying it and taking it all in but both have somewhat of a shell-shocked look at times that this is all happening to you. 

Well, it is.  Have fun, enjoy every second but take some advice from a rock chick now old enough to be your mom.  (That really hurt to write.)

1. Be gracious. To everyone – your fans, your handlers, the guy who puts your mic on before the TV interview. Everyone. No exceptions.
2. Follow your heart. If it doesn’t seem right, don’t do it. If the outfit they give you to wear is not you, respectfully decline to wear it. Stay true to yourself and don’t change because others want you to conform to their ideas of what you should be…or look like.
3. Stay in charge. Don’t allow anyone to take over your finances or signature. I don’t care how busy you get or how rich you become, you sign the checks and you make the final decisions. Mick Jagger seems to find time to do it and you can do it as well.
4. Remember where you came from. Stay in touch and stay close to your family and original friends. They are the ones that loved you and supported you before everyone else. Make time for them in your lives. Tell your handlers they will just have to deal with that.
5. Save your money. The original Idol Kelly Clarkson did it the smart way. She made tons of money and the first thing she did was invest and put enough away to take care of her for the rest of her life. You make better decisions when you aren’t being led by desperation.
6. Enjoy it all. This is not brain surgery. No one is going to die. There is no reason to let any of this stress you out. Take a big yoga breath and smile. And hang on for the ride of your life!

Rock on,

Dayna Steele, mom and former rock chick……