You said this move would be easier than the last.
Last time, your boxes were absolutely scattered. It took you six weeks to find the cutting board hiding out in the bathroom linen closet.
There has to be an easier way.
Moving companies can’t be responsible for moving your life and reorganizing it.
You’re responsible for organizing the mess on your hands.
In a similar fashion, you can’t count on the vast expanses of social media to give you exactly what you’re looking for, all the time, in exactly the right place.
Social media sites are like moving companies in that they’re great vehicles for moving information and opportunities your way, but it’s still up to you, the user to organize everything into appropriate categories and then utilize it efficiently.
LinkedIn could possibly win the award for the most misunderstood social networking site. Posting a picture of yourself in a business suit and listing your three internships won’t magically land you a job.
You may stand a better chance of movers hanging the B&W photos of your puppy frolicking in grass on a sunny day.
When using LinkedIn, it’s important to know what personal information is relevant and what types of companies you’re looking to connect with. If you want a job in marketing, connecting with the guy you sat next to last semester in Intro Biology won’t help.
Just imagine you’re the mover with a box marked “bathroom.” The box itself and the things in it won’t be of any use in the kitchen. To fully utilize its contents, it really needs to be in the bathroom.
So, keep your LinkedIn profile strictly professional. Focus on connecting with only people and companies who serve a larger purpose or help your end goal. They can connect you with more right people who can connect you with more right people (so forth and so on).
The Land of the Blogs (and beyond)
Blogs, forums and other user-driven sites are possibly the most diverse, open-ended way to find and share information on the web.
If you need tips on how where to travel in Seattle, how to knit that trendy scarf Karen told you she made herself, what to bake for a baby shower or what type of leaf blower to buy, blogs and forums will undoubtedly have you covered. You’ll never find a stray whisk under your bed, so to speak.
Additionally, if you’re an expert on home sound systems or eyebrow waxing, you can start a blog of your own.
No one wants to read 56 consecutive tweets about your harrowing experience at the oil change bay.
Twitter was designed for quick news sharing in 140 characters or less. If you’re looking for timely updates with leads to more extensive sources of information, twitter is perfect.
So, carry your oil change story over to Tumblr or something, because nobody on Twitter cares. You and your 56 tweets-in-a-row are the box marked “kitchen” in their master bedroom.
Everybody knows Facebook is for secretly keeping tabs on your college roommate, or the kid from your elementary that wore mismatched socks everyday for three years.
Sure, it’s also good for businesses big and small, connecting with friends in foreign countries, chatting with people you don’t know well enough to text or posting pictures of the cupcakes you made with mom last weekend—but we all know you just want to lurk on your ex’s page. You’re totally the shower tile cleaner in their pantry.
Keeping your online experience relevant and useful
Once you learn how to decipher what information you need on the Internet and where to find it, you’ll be in great shape. And, make sure that the information you provide on LinkedIn, a blog, Twitter or Facebook is appropriate for the purpose of the site. You don’t want to be the wayward food processor in the garden shed.
wow, I like this… thank you
I’m glad you like it! If you are ever interested in guest posting, let me know! ;-)
Great job. Love to read and write about social media and networking!
Good analogies…
Very interesting points thanks :)
Sometimes when Facebook changes things around, I compare it to the new housekeeper who put away the dishes in the dishwasher. You need to open every cupboard again to see what is really there as opposed to what you would expect to find there.
I agree with your statement, Denise!