With so much conversation regarding social media, I thought it time to discuss it here.
Are you using it?
Are you using it effectively?
Am I making an assumption that you know what Social Media is?
Let me answer the last question first. Social Media is a term that is frequently bounced around these days that effectively means the same as: Web 2.0, Social Networking, Digital Marketing, or just the sites one uses like: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Flickr, Myspace and Youtube.
Here’s what all of these sites have in common: They help you communicate with like-minded individuals. Very simply stated, Social Media is a conversation.
Back to the earlier questions about how you’re using it.
Conversations online are just like conversations in the real world, you need to be engaging the right people in the right discussions. Many people setup a facebook or linkedin account and think that’s all there is to it. That’s the equivalent of showing up to a party and not talking with anyone. Load up your contacts (add friends on facebook and connections on linkedin). Use the status update, not so much to answer “What are you working on?” but as a way to be intriguing or share knowledge. Post links of interest, comment on other people’s thoughts and ideas and most importantly, ask questions.
Here are a couple of other thoughts to consider:
Should you be spending time doing this?
Are you participating in the right conversations? Are you talking with customers, vendors, business partners or better yet, all three?
Are you on the right sites to find what you seek?
Are people responding to conversations you start?
If you could only use three sites, which ones would they be?
I shall look forward to your side of the conversation.
