Often times people will say, "I don't want all my business being out there in social media land. If I want to talk to someone, I will just call them or email them."
That is a great idea, however... Think about how many people in the course of your professional career and personal life that you have connected with. Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Each person that you had an interaction with has helped shape who you are today. The important item to remember, is you never know when you will cross paths with those individuals again. Why not take the time to keep in contact with someone from your past?
Last month, as part of my membership in a local trade organization, we had a speaker at our monthly luncheon that presented a program called the ABC's of networking. Always Be Connecting is the way I remember because he told a story that was very personal to his family about how having connections literally saved his daughters life. Without going into details, the power of having resources to draw on throughout your life is invaluable.
Some social media sites allow users to solicit or provide recommendations from their connections. Other social media sites allow users to become connected to others with similar hobby interests. These connections are able to help tell the story about YOU.
Over my career, I have been asked to endorse others for jobs they applied for. I have also been asked to refer job seekers to potential employers and recruiters. It is a lot easier to refer people and provide endorsements for those where connections have been maintained.
Social media is difficult for some to embrace because it requires you to put yourself out there for others to interpret. If you use social media intelligently, you can enhance connections to acquaintances, long lost friends, and potential employers.
Social media is a tool to write your story. Use it write your truth, not your fiction. Accept feedback from others, regardless of how critical it may be. Be positive! Remember, when you are out there, you are out there for all to see!
Have a great rest of the week!
A strong social network will also build you a robust information sharing community. This can help your personal and professional growth. An active network can help you keep up with the latest trends and best practices in your industry. With so much information floating around out there who and where would you prefer to recieve your information from?
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