Social Media is amazing, isn’t it? From Twitter to Facebook, from Ping.fm to LinkedIn, we are all now even more connected than we ever have been. We know where people are through apps like “Loopt” 24x7x365.  With Twitter we know what they are doing in 140 characters or less!

 

Personally I use the social media tools for business purposes 95% of the time. Many of you have seen my “Tweet of Success” where I make announcements about the partners I work with.  I send these tweets when one of my partners gets a big project or a new client. I also use it to promote my events, like Spring Training for Business.

 

When starting out with new partners I always ask if they are using any social media to promote their business and I get about a 50% positive response. Most have at least a LinkedIn profile, but often they haven’t done anything with it in months and sometimes even years. I tell them that now is the time to reinvent themselves using on-line social media. I encourage them to get a Twitter account, to create a profile and a company fan page on Facebook, and to update their LinkedIn profile.

 

If you are not using social media I suggest you get going on it right away.  Once you get your network set up you can start following your peers, vendors and even catch up with old friends. After that you need to get your clients on board with social media as well. As a technologist, you can help them create their on-line social network. This will establish you as more than just their computer guy or technology consultant.  You will become a marketing consultant as well and can therefore help them increase their footprint and potential profits.

 

I am ending this blog post with some words of caution.  No matter what you post or where you post it, be it on Facebook, Twitter or a blog, keep in mind that it is a reflection on you, your image, your business and more importantly your reputation. Don’t let yourself get caught up in silly “on-line” games with those who might seek to draw you in.  These are not serious business professionals and you should consider such behavior to be beneath you. Always buckle up and take the higher road on the information super highway.

 

You can follow me on LinkedIn, my personal Twitter account, or the Twitter account for Spring Training for Business,  Facebook, our Facebook Fan Page or join our Facebook Group.

 

All the best in success,

 

Stu