Business starts talking with its thumbs
The list of social networks is growing, but the most popular these days ”“ MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter ”“ received a thorough analysis from LinkedIn”™s Brian Teitje at the Palisades Institute”™s Dec. 3 breakfast at Rockland Country Club.
Teitje, a strategic account executive for corporate solutions for the company, said each social media outlet has its own positives and followers ”“ but be wary of what you say online. “One woman ”˜twittered”™ a friend that she had just gotten a job at Cisco and couldn”™t decide if it was worth the money to drive nearly two hours to a job she hated.” Cisco web watchers picked up the twitter. Result? The job offer was taken off the table.
“Think before you put anything in electronic format and if it will add value to your profile,” said Teitje. “Perhaps you shouldn”™t tweet at all.”
With 53 million people now “linked” around the world and growing at a rate of two million per month, Teitje says LinkedIn attracts high earners with college degrees or those already in college. “These are the movers and shakers, the decision-makers, people who can open lots of doors, as well.”
It”™s a global economy, of course, and LinkedIn is multilingual. It will soon add Mandarin to its list of languages.Â
Teitje was also “linked in” to what other social networking sites can do for the professional. “If you are into music or a musician, MySpace is a place you definitely want to be connected to. Facebook is your basic ”˜backyard barbecue.”™ You are there to be entertained. LinkedIn has most of its traffic during the workday. On weekends, it slows down considerably.”
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As for Twitter, “What would social media discussion be without it?” said Teitje. You get to type in 140 characters to put your thoughts out there. Linked In gets approximately 10,000 to 15,000 tweets a day. Everyone on the web has a profile.”
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For business owners or employees of large companies, Teitje reminded them they are “ambassadors of the company. By default, LinkedIn asks you to be able to share your information. Twitter doesn”™t ask permission.” That”™s why it”™s important, stressed Teitje, to put your best foot forward if your name is attached to an organization.
The LinkedIn account executive said it”™s important to keep your profile updated and fresh. “People spend an average of 5-7 seconds on a web page. If they don”™t see what they are looking for, they”™ll move on. Don”™t make your customers work hard to find what you want them to know; make your profile eye-catching.”
If your company has a Facebook page, “Make sure there is a live person monitoring it,” said Teitje. “If you don”™t have the resources to manage it, you will do more damage by having one and not monitoring on a daily basis. If you are going to do it, do it right.”
When executives here social media, “they hear ”˜free,”™” smiled Teitje. Yes, the basics are free, but upgrading costs money and that”™s how Linked In reportedly earned $17 million in fiscal 2008.
What are the benefits for companies to maintain a social media website? Several, said Teitje. “You get name recognition and your brand becomes known. You reach a broad range of people and make it easier for people to find you. It also makes it easier for you to find them. If you have experienced people misspelling your name, put in those misspelled names so they can find you.”
For those looking for a job or looking to fill one, there is a link to “jobs” on LinkedIn”™s website.
“Be specific about your goals and the position you are looking for,” Teitje said. “Make your resume stand out. For those hiring, if you have a job to fill but don”™t have a specific person in mind, you can search LinkedIn”™s category section and then narrow it down to a 50-mile radius if you are keeping your search local. If you have a job to offer, you can post that job.”