Carroll County Times Articles
Social Media
by Mike Shelah – January 10, 2010
It seems to be everywhere right now. Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are some of the best known social media sites, but there are dozens of others. What is the purpose, what should you be aware of? Let's take a quick look to try and better understand how these resources can best utilized for you or your business.
In its simplest form, social media is just that: a platform that encourages people to interact with one another and the purpose can be professional or personal. When joining a particular page, you should ask yourself "what do I want to get out of this?" Do you want to make new friends or re-connect with old ones? Do you want to find more customers are you trying to promote a new idea or event? Some or all of these can be incorporated, just understand what you want out of it.
Most of us have heard the horror stories about the grade school teacher who lost their job because of pictures posted online. This is a very real issue. So let's go down the list. If you are not willing to say it to your mother or grandmother, don't post it online. Why? Because your mother or grandmother can access your information and read it. There is no true anonymity on the internet anymore. If you have a profile picture make sure it is not offensive, if you are unsure, go back to my first statement. Pictures of you with your family or children are fine. Just remember that people who have never met you are going to make a judgment about you based on that picture. If you don't mind people saying "hey you're the guy in the sombrero, holding the iguana!" then go right ahead and use that picture.
More and more businesses use social media to research a potential employee. If you and the employer have a mutual friend or connection, they can utilize that to make a decision. But remember to be on your best behavior. It is also useful to understand your audience. LinkedIn really does target the business community (no games). Facebook is about developing relationships and interacting with others. Twitter really is for a very short and concise message; if you want to share a quick thought or promote an idea in brief, Twitter is ideal.
In Summary, online social media can be a very effective way to communicate with friends, family, coworkers, customers & business partners, but be sure to understand who you are "speaking" to and who may indeed be "listening." For more information about the latest in digital media, come to a free seminar hosted by the Tech Council and Carroll Community College on January 21st, 7 PM at the Carroll Nonprofit Center; featuring digital media expert, Leah Messina from Sinuate Media., LLC. This event is free, but you must call 410-386-8100 (reference course #XXZ-745-A3) to register.
About the Author
Mike Shelah is a Senior Account Executive with XO Communications. He is a member of the Tech Council's board of directors and is also chair of the Ambassador Committee. He can be reached at 443-340-8029 or mikeshelah@yahoo.com. To learn more about the Tech Council, visit the website at www.carrolltechcouncil.org
