Being Social #2 - Making Connections

Welcome to the second issue of Being Social. Based on the feedback you have sent my way, Being Social is providing needed information. I hope you'll continue to provide comments, as well recommend Being Social to your colleagues.

Six Degrees of Separation: I remember when the trivia game surrounding the actor Kevin Bacon first appeared. It was fun to think about which actors has a connection to him through their work with other actors. (Who has worked with someone who had worked with Kevin Bacon?) It then became fun to think about ordinary people who were six connections (or less) away from a famous individual. For example, I know "C" who knows Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who knows President Barack Obama.

Making those connections visible and more usable is what LinkedIn does (for free). The mission of LinkedIn is to connect you with the colleagues that you respect and trust. With over 55 million members in more than 200 countries and territories around the world, it is likely that there are several people using LinkedIn that could be important contacts for you. They could help you advance an idea, locate a supplier, find a new opportunity, or remove a career barrier. Some industry associations are encouraging their members to join LinkedIn, in order to become more visible. The more visible you are, the more likely opportunities will come your way.

If you haven't joined LinkedIn, then you need to sign-up (free) so you can take advantage of the extended network that is awaiting you. You'll need to set aside time to create a complete profile on LinkedIn. Yes, the profile asks for a lot of information! But the more information you put in LinkedIn, the easier it will be for other people to find you. In addition, once people in your extended network find you, they will be able to see your accomplishments and capabilities. You are then no longer an unknown entity. Keep in mind that that you're not creating a classic resume in LinkedIn. Instead, you are writing prose to explain what you have accomplished as well as the positions that you have held. You want to include those words and phrases that will be meaningful to others in your industry. Those that see your LinkedIn profile should be able to understand what "you bring to the table" and why you matter.

One of the powerful features of LinkedIn is to ask colleagues to write recommendations for you. You need to ask people for recommendations. Don't assume that they will do it without being prompted. The more recommendations that give information on your successes and skills, the better.

If you are a member of LinkedIn, it is likely that you could be doing more to interact with your extended network, as well as those who are in your area of interest.

• Using the Network Update feature, tell people about a recent success or provide a useful tidbit.
• Use the message feature to send messages to some of your connections. Do more than just say "hi". Tell them something that will pique their interest or give them information that you know they can use.
• Join a group that is focused on your area of expertise and then participate in the group discussions. Yes, some people use the discussions to post self-serving advertisements, which can be annoying, but you can be different. Ask meaningful questions and engage the group in worthwhile discussions.
  

Like nearly every social site, LinkedIn has privacy setting. Take time to review and update your settings. While you may want to keep some of your information private, keep in mind that the more visible you are, the easier it will be for people to find and engage you.

By the way, here is my LinkedIn profile. I consider it to be a continued work-in-progress. Like my resume, it is never finished.

Tips: So the obvious tip for this week is to join and be active in LinkedIn. In addition, implement these five ideas:

1. Add your photo to your LinkedIn profile. Profiles that contain photos are viewed more frequently. If you don't have a recent photo, you can easily have a friend take a photo that you can use. For a more professional photo, hire a photographer to do a headshot for you that you can use online (and offline).
   
2. Connect only to people that know you and your work. Your direct connections should be able to recommend you. Don't connect to people that you don't know as a way of increasing your connections. People that don't know you are not likely to make the introductions that you need or pass along the information that you require.
   
3. Weed your connections. Undoubtedly, you've added people that you really don't know. Take time to review your contacts and delete anyone whom you don't recognize or remember. Hint - they will not know that you've ended your connection with them.
4. Get in the habit of providing a Network Update weekly, if not daily. If you are unsure about what to share, read what your colleagues are sharing. Keep your Network Updates positive. No need to have any negativity associated with your LinkedIn profile.
5. Include the URL to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature, on your business card, or on your web site. Since you can have your profile viewable by anyone (whether or not they are a member of LinkedIn), it can be a great way of sharing who you are with others.
   

For Your Information & Entertainment: Here are two books that I think you'll find useful.

Steve Tylock wrote The LinkedIn Personal Trainer in 2007. I read my copy on a cross country flight and then couldn't wait to implement was I was reading. Tylock does a wonderful job walking you through what you need to do to setup your LinkedIn account. Completing your profile can seem like a daunting task, but with Tylock's help, it becomes much easier.

Read This First: The Executive's Guide to New Media-from Blogs to Social Networks was written by Ron Ploof (2009). Ploof began this work as something to use with his clients. He wanted a paper that he could give to an executive to read before their first meeting. Feedback told him that more people could benefit from a work like this and the book was born. If you are an executive or if your pitching social media to an executive (e.g., your boss), this book could be very helpful.

And here is a video, provided by LinkedIn (via Youtube), that helps to explain its usefulness. If you're trying to convince someone to join LinkedIn, this video may be very useful.



Comments? If you have a comment about this issue of Being Social, please email me or leave a comment in the blog. Thanks!

The next issue of Being Social will be published in two weeks. Until then...!

Being Social #1 - Starting the Conversation

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Being Social. Being Social is a new twice monthly feature of eNetworking 101: The Blog. The name - Being Social - reflects the core value of social media. While we want to use social media to promote our endeavors, find clients, sell products, etc., the goal of social media is to give people the opportunity to:

• Connect with others
• Be in a community
• Be involved in social activities
• Enjoy the companionship of others
• Share information
  
• Collaborate
  

Or in other words, to be social. Of all of those, the first thing that happens with social media is connecting with others. Being involved in social media is not a solo activity. It is through the interaction with our connections that we become more proficient in using social media. You may have noticed that most sites have limited or useless help screens. While that can be seen as a flaw, the positive side is that you are then reliant on your connections (friends) to teach you the finer points of using the technology. Being in the "same boat" can be a powerful bonding agent, so don't be afraid to dive into a tool like Twitter with the vow that you and your friends will figure it out together. (Don't worry - I'll be giving you tips too!)

But I Have Nothing To Say: Connecting with others is more than just "friending" the person; you need to engage that person in a conversation. I'll admit that some of tools, like Twitter, don't seem like places for conversations, but they are. The give-n-take can feel disjointed, like two people talking while jogging on a track but going in opposite directions. There can be a lag in the conversation or the conversation can feel one sided...just like two people exchanging words as the pass each other twice on each lap. While that is something you'll have to get used to, the bigger problem is that people feel that they have nothing to say.

I run into people all the time that say they don't want to use social media because they believe that cannot contribute anything to the conversation. For some, the "nothing" is because they cannot talk about their work. For others, it's a belief that nothing they are doing would be of interest to others. However, we all have interesting personal and professional lives that should give us much to talk about. For example:

• The title and URL of an interesting article that you read
• Information on an event that you're involved in
• Pointer to something that is occurring that concerns you
• Heads-up about a networking opportunity ("Anyone attending XYZ Conference want to meet for coffee?")
• Something you did that you're proud of (e.g., big contract, running a marathon, staying on track with your goals, giving good customer service)
• A tidbit of information that you believe should be shared (e.g., new product announcement, local news story, a piece of wisdom)
  

Since the idea is to converse, you can -- and should -- also respond to what some of your contacts are saying. That response can be an answer or just giving more information. Sometimes it is just a "me too" or an message of support.

But you want to influence and sell and...! I know. But as any salesperson will tell you, the conversation comes first. It is through the conversation that you learn who that person really is and what his needs are. Talk and listen, then the rest will follow.

Notice that I haven't said which tool this conversation should happen in. It is not the tool that's important, it's what you do with it. Conversations can happen in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Friendfeed to name a few. If you're using enterprise social software (or Enterprise 2.0), it can happen there too. So if you're using a social media tool today, start talking to those that you're connected with. If you're not using social media, ask your colleagues what they are using and then select one to join. You'll automatically know at least one person there that can help you learn "the ropes" and introduce you to others.

By the way, this morning I've already shared two book titles with my contacts (or followers) that I knew they would appreciate. I can see from the interaction that followed that indeed people did like them.

Tips: Our communications are becoming shorter in length. Consider that Twitter allows for messages of 140 characters. Although that is more restrictive then other sites, it is clear that being long-winded isn't valued. Sean Branagan, founder of Communigration, said that we need different versions of our elevator speeches, including versions that are 10 words and 3 words in length. Sean told a story about a plumbing company whose 3-word version was "We Show Up". When you have to call a plumber, it's likely an emergency, so showing up is vital! With social media, a 3-word version would definitely work no matter which tool you're using. So...

• Take your personal or organizational elevator speech and rework it. Get it down to 10 words. Then find the essence and phrase that in 3 words.
• If you're using a social media site where you can have a brief profile, use the 10-word version there. In LinkedIn, consider making it your "professional headline".
  
• When someone asks what you do, have the 3-word version ready to go. With only 3 words, you'll be able to respond to the person quickly not matter what keyboard or social media you're using.

For Your Information & Entertainment: In each newsletter, I'll highlight a few resources that might intrigue you. Since some of them will be less than serious, I'm titling this section appropriately!

There are an ever increasing number of books about social media and today I'm highlighting three. Digital marketing guru Mitch Joel bundled his knowledge normally reserved for his blog and podcasts into a book called Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone. I listen to many of Joel's podcasts and have heard him say that the book is available for those that want it, but that much of the same wisdom is in his blog and podcasts. He knows that some people just want "the book", so he wrote one. Yes, he's definitely worth listening to or reading (blog or book).

While Joel's book provides advice on reaching your global audience, The Twitter Book is geared towards making anyone a power Twitter user. Co-authored by Tim O'Reilly, this could be him just jumping on the Twitter bandwagon, since thousands of people are power Twitter users without reading any books.

Finally, Twitter Wit: Brilliance in 140 Characters or Less is a compilation of fun tweets. It's a nice reminder - if you need one - that social media can be a pleasant diversion.

Comments? If you have a comment about this issue of Being Social, please email me or leave a comment in the blog. Thanks!

The next issue of Being Social will be published in two weeks. Until then...!

I don't want to keep this secret! (Launching something new just for YOU)

In one week, I'll be launching a series here at eNetworking 101: The Blog on how to use social media more effectively in your daily life, both personally and professionally. The series will be newsletter-style blog posts, meaning that each Being Social blog post will contain tips, an article from me (or a guest columnist), and links to useful resources.

Over the last year, I've seen a number of resources on social media -- and so have you. They either talk about how easy it all is OR give you a supposedly tried-and-true series of steps that will guarantee you phenomenal results. The truth is actually someplace in the middle and it is a middle that I will explore twice a month with you.

Twice a month, Being Social will help you understand how to use social media to put yourself and your business in front of the people that need you.

You will hear from those -- people like you -- that have found success through social media and learn what they did that has made a difference. You will then be able to improve your social media practice by following in their footsteps.

Being Social will also talk about specific tools, tips and techniques that can improve your social media practice.

If you are not subscribed to automatically receive eNetworking 101: The Blog automatically, then sign-up today. The first issue of Being Social is coming soon! Make sure you will receive it.

I connect, therefore I survive

The holidays are not always joyful. In "the old days", some people might have felt quite alone in their grief or depression while being surrounded by a myriad of happy faces who thought that the holidays were the best time of the year. I've been in that situation and can tell you that it's not fun. For a few years, I felt that the best gift I could have given myself was to go to some remote location for the holidays by myself so I wouldn't have to hear the joyful noises of others.

No, though, people who aren't as joyous during the holidays can connect with others people online who are feeling the same way. They find each other not only on forums, but also on social media sites that allow for rapid exchanges and instant community-building around a thought or idea. My bah-humbug can instantly be met with a "me too" and words that remind me that we will all get through this.

My holidays, by the way, are no longer events that make me cringe, but I know that there are those around me for whom this wasn't a jolly time. As I look at them, I do see them connecting to lifeboats via social media and using the tools to help them survive.

Oh shiny! (it's really about community)

This is the time of year when we're surrounded by shiny objects. Everything glitters and attracts our attention. Like little children, we may find ourselves running from one shiny object to another. And while that's fun during the holiday season, that behavior when it comes to social media might be fun, but it isn't useful.

On February 10, I'm giving a presentation entitled "Social Media: Do's, Don'ts & Why Not's" for the Syracuse Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery. I'm going to talk about the problems, pitfalls, joys, and benefits of social media and one of those is the "oh shiny" effect.

The "oh shiny" effect is what happens when people are attracted to the next social media tools (i.e., a shiny object) and continue to run from one tool to other. More productive is to be more selective. Yes, you need to try a few tools in order to know which ones are truly appropriate, but then make some decisions and don't feel like you need to use everything. Using everything means that you're splitting your time across many tools, rather than concentrating your efforts on a few tools.

It can be helpful to keep in mind your real goal. The goal isn't how many tools you can use. The goal is establishing or becoming part of an active community, and then interacting with that community so they value you and what you do. Oh...but you want to sell stuff. People will do business with you if they know you and value you. Use the tools to establish relationships and the money will come.

Everything is meta

I've grown fond of listening to podcasts because I can do it while on a bus, train or plane. I'm amazed at how much I can listen to while traveling or just normal commuting. This week, one of the podcasts I listened to was Mitch Joel's Six Pixels of Separation #178 - Media Hacks #20 Live (To Hard Drive) From New York City (54 min. Rated "L" for language).

The Media Hacks version of his podcasts are round table discussions. This one really interested me because they discussed the use of Twitter at conferences, which then morphed into talking about the fact that "everything is meta". Rather than living in the moment, people are living in the details and providing a comprehensive (meta) commentary of their lives. For example, this couple updated their Facebook pages at during their wedding ceremony, while others are sharing granular details of their lives. If you are doing that, can you really be enjoying what you're doing? If you are tweeting about every song during a concert, are you really being part of the audience and part of the live experience?

Maybe when people talk about what they don't like about social media this is what they are really talking about. They don't want meta. They don't appreciate that level of detail. And perhaps when they see people providing that level of detail about their lives online, they wonder if these people are really being present in their lives or if they are just observing their lives.

As you can tell, I was really fascinated with the discussion. I know I'll do some more thinking on this and I suspect this will change how I use social media.

Updated privacy setting for Facebook

Facebook has unveiled new privacy settings. Facebook users are being prompted to review the settings and make any changes that they want. While you may just ignore the need, I encourage you to review your privacy settings and really think about who you want to see what. You might even want to review your settings periodically to see if you want to tighten or loosen the settings. Personally, I believe that you should tighten your settings. There is no need to share all of your details with the world!

For information on the new privacy settings, go to:

• How to fix Facebook's new privacy settings
• Facebook Tosses Graph Privacy into the Bin
• Updates on Your New Privacy Tools