Judging by the number of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and other social networking questions I’m receiving from Mediator Tech readers, it sounds like online networking is on your mind. Here are the answers to the questions I’m asked most frequently, followed by additional resources to help you learn more.
What social networking tools do you use?
I primarily use Twitter and LinkedIn, though I keep a Facebook profile too. Why the first two? They’re the spaces my market hangs out in, I find their annoyance factor pretty low, I have fun with them, and I learn something when I’m hanging out in them.
What social networking tools should mediators use?
It’s not for me to say. The right social networking sites for you will be determined by what you want to achieve, where your target market hangs out, and how you like to interact with the web. I recommend getting clear on your goals for social networking (help on this below), picking one or two social networks, and experimenting over a period of 90 days.
How do I get the most out of social networking?
What you get out of social networking is in direct proportion to how much you put in. The more of a resource and participant you are, the greater the outcomes for you, generally (assuming you’ve invested the time to learn how to use it well).
Do people who use social networks online have lives? They seem to have way too much time on their hands.
Yes, we have lives. Most of us, I hope. I can’t speak for others, but I am judicious in how much time I spend and very clear what I want to accomplish when I am on Twitter and LinkedIn. Except when I’m eating lunch and want to be entertained, when I do act like I’ve got more time on my hands than I really do!
How do I get started?
Good that you asked. Here are some resources to guide and inform you. And if you have other questions, be sure to leave a comment on this post and I’ll follow up with some thoughts in reply.
If you take the Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace or other social media plunge (go ahead, pick one and just try it out), check out these tools and pieces of wisdom:
Happy tweet
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