In this modern age where there are so many ways to network with other people whether it be through Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, YouTube, or even old-fashioned instant messenger as well as so many more, we sometimes find ourselves wondering what the actual “rules” are when it comes to using these resources.
Is is acceptable to befriend somebody you don’t know?
Is it ok to deny a person your friendship on Facebook even if you know them but don’t really want to be friends?
Is it rude to not follow people on Twitter who are following you?
These are just a few of the issues that I am going to try my best to address for you as well as just how to be successful at them in general. Keep in mind that there really aren’t any rules to these sites “written in stone”. It’s all up to personal technique, interpretation and good ole common sense to decide what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to using them.
In regards to Facebook:
Be sure you understand your privacy settings. There are so many boxes to check and uncheck regarding what people will see and won’t see. Don’t get caught by surprise at what people are or aren’t seeing.
Never post or allow others to tag you in anything that could reflect poorly on your character. You never know when an employer, professor, or family friend will see it and the response that could come from it. If somebody posts a picture of you that would rather not be there, politely send them a message to remove it. If they won’t, then at least un-tag yourself.
If a stranger or somebody who shares a mutual friend with you tries to befriend you and you aren’t comfortable being their friend, it is completely alright to deny them friendship. It is your privacy at stake and you shouldn’t feel pressured into doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Alternatively, you could always send them a message asking how they know you and why they are requesting your friendship. It’s a forward method of course and really depends on your personality. On the flipside, don’t be offended if a stranger denies your request. Additionally, if somebody you do know sends you a request that you’d rather not accept, it might be a good idea to only give them access to your “limited profile” or just suck it up and add them- nobody is forcing you to communicate after all. You could still deny them too, but be aware it may be a little awkward the next time you see them.
Don’t overload your friend’s homepages with status updates. Most people, while they are your friend, could probably care less what you are doing every 30 minutes. Once or twice a day is acceptable, but try not to take it much farther than that. On the flipside, if you have friends updating statuses or posting things so often that it clutters your page, you can hide their activities from showing up on your feed. It is a good alternative to deleting them from your friends.
Know what should be written on a wall and written in a message. Before posting something on a friend’s wall (or even your own wall for that matter) remember that what you are posting will be viewable by all of your friends and your friend’s friends. If it is something that may be embarrassing, rude, or just inappropriate, maybe consider sending it in a private message – if at all.
Some rules for relationships on Facebook…
In Regards to Twitter:
Twitter is pretty loose in rules when it comes to following people. It’s not nearly as formal and privacy isn’t as guarded. Follow whoever you want. Be sure to understand that you can protect your “tweets” from public. Simply go to your account settings and hide them from people you don’t approve of.
If somebody sends you a direct message, replies to one of your “tweets”, or even begins following you, it is a nice gesture to respond to them. Let them know that you noticed them and that their voice matters as well. Don’t feel pressured into following those who are following you though – it is completely up to you who you get updates from!
You might want to consider how many people you are following. When your list starts to grow larger than 200-250 following, you may want to either refine your list or consider using an application such as Tweetdeck or Tweetie to help keep your incoming and outgoing “tweets” more organized and an overall more efficient experience.
Make your profile look nice. Be sure to update you bio, location (if you are comfortable with that), avatar picture, and page background/colors. Doing this will make you more appealing and attract followers. It will also show people that you are real and more personable.
Don’t solely update your status with what you are actually doing. Sure, that’s what the site says to do; but unless your life is just super exciting, most people won’t really care to hear what you are doing 24/7. It is alright to occasionally tell the Twitterverse what your daily activities are going to consist of or something interesting that happened on the bus ride to work, but be sure that the bulk of your “tweets” do not consist of this unless you want to only attract spam bots and joke accounts. Offer helpful advice, ideas, questions and opinions to get the most from your Twitter experience.
You are never to old to get involved on the Twitter fad...
In Regards to Blogs:
Be yourself and have fun. This is the number one advice I can give in terms of blogging. Blog as much or as little as you want. Don’t blog about things that don’t interest you. Be who you are and you will be guaranteed to churn out better blog posts that attract more readers. That being said, it is a good idea to try to post something once a week or so if your goal is to attract a lot of traffic. If you spread them out too far, you will have a hard time establishing a regular reader base.
Use pictures and videos in your posts. Humans are very visual people. Posts full of walls of text are usually a turn-off and will send readers surfing for another blog to read. Something graphical to break the monotony of reading is always a nice addition. Also, be sure to give credit where credit is due for any photos or videos you use.
Be sure to leave the opportunity for your readers to comment your posts. It is also a good idea to engage in the comments as well to show your readers that you also value their opinions and voice.
Realize that not everybody is going to agree with you and don’t take it personal if you get mean comments. In many posts, especially those involving opinions, there are bound to be people who will disagree with you and will be very vocal in doing so. Simply accept that not everybody will agree with you and continue doing your thing.
If it is fame you desire, then you must promote your blog! There are so many ways to do this. Advertise it on Twitter with relevant keywords regarding your posts; tell your friends about it; or you may even consider sending a link to famous blogs such as Anderson Cooper or the official NFL blog and hope somebody takes notice.
Popular blogging platforms…
So there you have it folks. Just a few tips to help make your networking endeavors more successful. Hopefully I helped some of you with some questions or concerns you had. If you have any issues I didn’t address, feel free to leave them in a comment and we’ll try to solve them.
To learn more about these networking sites and just networking in general from the pros, be sure to come to NetworkBash at the Hendrix Center on November 4!
We’ll see you there!
Best wishes,
Stephen Roark
(Clemson Architecture student)
For Immediate Release | October 28, 2009 | Click Here for PDF
Clemson, SC— Clemson University’s NetworkBash is designed to give job seekers a competitive advantage in the current job market. This is an event to teach students how to market themselves face-to-face and using social media. Even though this is an event for Clemson students, the skills are essential for any job seeker.
NetworkBash is being held at Clemson University’s Hendrix Student Center on November 4th from 2-8 p.m. The first part of the day is spent teaching participants how to craft an elevator pitch and then putting them in simulated situations allowing them to practice their pitch—all while receiving feedback from company recruiters.
The second part of the day focuses on social media and how to network using the Internet. South Carolina Social Media Professionals and Entrepreneurs are volunteering their time to teach these sessions and take part in a panel discussion.
Panel Discussion focused on Social Media and Building Career Relationships:
• John Warner: CEO of Innoventure, LLC
• Olivier Blanchard: Brandbuilder Marketing
• Phil Yanov: Writer, Columnist, Speaker, and Founder of the GSA Technology Council
• Steve Gonzalez: Entrepreneur and Partner at Rico Media, Inc.
• Trey Pennington: South Carolina’s top Twitter and Owner of The Pennington Group
• Lonnie Emard: Director of the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management
One of the most amazing aspects of this entire event was that it was organized and executed by 38 Clemson University students in two business writing classes, two instructors, and the Michelin Career Center. The event is free to all students/faculty/staff participants and made possible by corporate sponsorships.
What is an Elevator Speech?
An elevator speech is a short (15-30 second, 150 word) sound bite that succinctly and memorably introduces you. It spotlights your uniqueness. It focuses on the benefits you provide. And it is delivered effortlessly.
Elevator speeches are intended to prepare you for very brief, chance encounters in an elevator. But elevator speeches are not just for elevators! You should use it whenever you want to introduce yourself to a new contact. That could be in the supermarket, waiting in line at an ATM or when you get your morning latte.
So, who better than you to describe with passion, precision and persuasiveness what
you do? A great elevator speech makes a lasting first impression, showcases your
professionalism and allows you to position yourself. And if you want to network
successfully, you need an elevator speech!
The How To’s of Elevator Speeches:
While many Elevator Speeches are written by sales reps to pitch products and services, the formulas from which the speeches derive can be easily adapted to situations in which the product is you, the Entrepreneur. This roundup of formulas suggested by experts should provide food for thought for the method that works best for you in planning and outlining your Elevator Speech.
Example:
Who am I? (introduce yourself)
What business am I in?
What group of people do I service? (be specific — do you have a niche?)
What is my USP (Unique Selling Proposition)? What makes me different from the
competition?
What benefits do my customers derive from my services?
Unique Selling Propositions:
Now for a short course in preparing your elevator speech, or unique selling proposition: First, and most important, think in terms of the benefits your clients or customers derive from your services.
Trust me, no one is going to be riveted if you say:
“Hi, my name is Stanley Manly, and I’m a public relations executive with twenty years of
experience.”
Or:
“Hi, I’m Sally Hopeful, and I’m an executive recruiter.
Two big yawns.
What’s In It For Me? – Know Your Audience
Do you recall that old radio station, WII-FM: What’s In It For Me?!
If you remember that people are always more interested in how you can help them,
you’re on the right track. Keep that top of mind when composing your speech.
Here’s how to improve the two examples mentioned above:
“Hi, my name is Stanley Manly, and I help inventors tell the world about their
inventions.”
“Hi, I’m Sally Hopeful. I partner with companies that need to find talented people to help
their business growth and become more profitable.”
Now, you’ve got my attention!
Let’s use an elevator speech before and after as an example:
Here’s a before version:
“Hi, I’m Dale Kurow, and I’m a career and executive coach. I hold a Master’s Degree in
Career Counseling and have been trained by a master level coach. (Who cares!) I’ve
been an HR director for a multinational cosmetic company, run a PR agency and taught
college-level business courses. (So what!) I believe that coaching can be the catalyst to
change your life. (Are you asleep yet?)
See how that was all about “me, me, me”?
Now for the revised version:
“Hi, I’m Dale Kurow, and I help people become more successful at their work. For
example, I’ve helped a client change jobs with a 40% salary increase, I’ve helped a
client develop the skills to deal with a difficult boss, and I’ve helped a manager devise
new ways to keep her staff motivated.”
This post was compiled from my Engl304 – Business Writing Notes
Take a look at what Founder of Sheskey Learning Solutions and educator in Oconee County Schools has to say about his upcoming participation in Clemson NetworkBash:
How has social media benefited you personally in your professional endeavors?
The use of Twitter and the Tweetdeck application has allowed me to connect with other professionals in my field and expanding fields that I am interested in. It allows you to view and participate in authentic conversations. If a professional in your area of interest is using Twitter as a social media tool for their business you probably want to connect with them.
What are you looking forward to most about the Networkbash! event on November 4th?
Connecting with professionals outside the area of education. We are all facing similar issues with the economy, technology and the fast pace of change in the world.
Come to my session and I guarantee that it will be an interactive and dynamic experience that is different than what you expect! What is the best advice you can give to current students about getting a jump start on their career goals?
Study and research in detail the particular fields you are interested in. Do not hesitate to use your social media skills to connect with people. The use of social media for exploration of job fields is a valuable skill that did not even exist a few years ago. I am a digital immigrant and I am making the modern networking applications work for me!
Bill Sheskey will be speaking on the value of networking through face-to-face contact at NetworkBash on November 4th from 4:15-4:45pm in the Hendrix Center. Click here to sign up for Bill’s workshop session and don’t hesitate to check out the other great events NetworkBash has in store for the day! You can learn more about Bill at his website, www.BillSheskey.com or follow him on Twitter here.
There are so many spokes on this wheel called NetworkBash, ones that are necessary to make this event a success. When the first event was put together on March 31, 2009, it was a class project developed by a Business Writing Class in the Department of English. After that event, we realized the potential and the desire to make this bigger and to reach more students. One of the first individuals that showed interest was Flora Riley who is the Director of the Michelin Career Center. She recognized the value of bringing industry and students together to talk Social Media and building relationships for careers connections.
Clemson’s Advanced Writing bringing the curriculim and student support.
Industry Professionals bringing the career development and entrepreneurial spirit to the table
Corporate Sponsorships bringing the financial support to underwrite the event
Michelin Career Center bringing complete event execution and management along with the understanding of how an effective, career development event can be a success.
Each day, I am impressed with the abilities, knowledge, execution of each member of the Michelin Career Center. They have brought their corporate relationships to the table and understanding how to implement relevance for students and the corporate sponsors.
If it was not for the Michelin Career Center and the talented support staff, NetworkBash would not be a success.
Check out what internet entrepreneur and Director of Business Development for Nullvariable Web Consulting has to say about his upcoming participation in Clemson NetworkBash:
How has social media benefited you personally in your professional endeavors?
Social media has allowed me to make many connections that might have otherwise been difficult to make or taken many years. In addition I’ve been able to participate in many fun events because of being connected through social media. Social media has helped drive word of mouth for my business and helped sell out a recent seminar I presented.
What are you looking forward to most about the NetworkBash! event on November 4th?
The opportunity to meet students and discover how they’re using social media. To hear first hand their challenges and goals for the future.
What is the best advice you can give to current students about getting a jump start on their career goals?
Remember your goals. Break them down into much smaller more achievable steps. Go for them. The path that is presented to you isn’t always the best path. There are no shortcuts that are worth taking, hard honest work will always produce the best long term, sustainable results.
Doug Cone will be speaking on the value of networking through Twitter at NetworkBash on November 4th from 2:15-2:45pm in the Hendrix Center. Sign up for Doug’s workshop session here and check out the other great events NetworkBash has in store for the day! You can learn more about Doug at his website, http://dougcone.com/ or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nullvariable
To wrap up the day of events of NetworkBash on November 4th, we will be
having an After Party. This will be in the Hendrix Ballroom right after
the discussion panel at 6:30 p.m. and last for about an hour and a half.
You will have the chance to casually mingle with industry people. This is
the perfect time to use the networking skills you’ve learned throughout
the day! Also, we will be providing free food for this event. Don’t miss
out on this great opportunity!
Check out what Founder and President of the GSA Technology Council and the IT Leadership Council has to say about his upcoming participation in Clemson NetworkBash:
How has social media benefited you personally in your professional endeavors?
For me, social media is a logical extension of my efforts in traditional media and traditional social networking. The GSA Technology Council becomes increasingly useful to all involved as it grows. In fact all of my business efforts become more successful the more they are in contact with prospective consumers of our services. Social Media gives me the chance to test messages and casually reach new audiences at very low cost.
What are you looking forward to most about the NetworkBash! event on November 4th?
At these events I get to connect with an audience that is completely different than the one I see in my every day work. I get to ask questions and come away with an idea of that they find important. It’s a peek at the future of our culture. I’m always richer for the interaction.
What is the best advice you can give to current students about getting a jump start on their career goals?
I don’t know if you need to get a jump start. What you do need is to start now. Life is an experiment, so don’t wait. There is not much in life you don’t get better at with practice and waiting for perfection is just another way of letting fear of failure cause you to miss opportunities. Don’t wait. Do Something. If it doesn’t turn out the way you like, you can try something else pretty quickly. Both success and failure bring learning and each generates some pretty good stories along the way. But who knows… I could be wrong.
Phil Yanov is a writer, columnist, speaker, podcaster, blogger, and radio broadcaster who has spent his whole life working in technology. To learn more about Phil’s ideas and what he does, check out his blog at www.philyanov.com or come hear him speak and/or talk to him at the NetworkBash! event on November 4th.
Can you believe it? NetworkBash is less than 2 weeks away! If you haven’t done so already, go ahead and mark your calendars for November 4 in the Hendrix Student Center. As each day goes by, we are quickly approaching crunch time and all of the teams are busy trying to ensure that everything comes together and runs smoothly.
The operations team is working on finalizing floor plans and working within our budget to get many of the behind the scenes events taken care of. We can’t say it enough: thank you to our sponsors! We have gotten the support of many local businesses and are still working to build relationships with others. Our marketing is out in full force as we aim to recruit as many people as possible to attend. Keep a lookout for fliers and posters around campus and in the dining halls. Also, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to visit our website to RSVP. We’ll see you November 4!
upcoming participation in Clemson NetworkBash:
Check out what internet entrepreneur and Director of Business Development for 
