Jumping into Social Media to many people feels like diving head first into the deep end without knowing how to swim. They feel like if they bite the bullet they have to all of a sudden create a Facebook account and say good-bye to a few more hours a week looking at pictures of a dead deer shot by their 3rd cousin or read about a neighbor’s vacation to the Bahamas. While this could be your plight, it doesn’t have to be, nor should it be. Here are some quick tips to try your hand at a few different aspects of Social Media geared for busy professionals.
Bring the web to you: Google Reader
What if a newspaper dropped on your doorstep every morning with news tailored just for you? No more throwing away this and that section or going straight to Sports or the Business section. Instead everything is relevant and hand picked. This is Google Reader in a nutshell. It’s simple to set up and all you need is a Gmail account. It uses something called RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology that pulls info as it’s released/updated across the web on the sites you want to follow and/or news you want to be privy of.
Other RSS Reader option:
Microsoft Outlook
Read smart people: Blogs
If you could be a fly on the wall, listening into someone’s thoughts, who would that someone be? For me, it’s Mark Cuban. I really, really like what he has to say and when he speaks, I listen (doesn’t mean I heed all of it). Lucky enough for me, he has a blog where he talks about a variety of issues that I value – economy, sports management, start-up business, etc. While not everyone is a fan of Mark Cuban, I think you get the point I am trying to make – why wouldn’t I read insights from someone whose thoughts I value on a particular subject matter? Blogs are an easy entrance into Social Media by way of being a spectator and, in combination with the RSS technology mentioned above (Google Reader or like tool), it’s super efficient.
Many thought leaders in various fields have a place where they go and freely share their thoughts.
Some blogs I read that you may also like:
Mark Cuban
Harvard Business Review
McKinsey
Rita Keller, Firm Management
Michelle Golden, Firm Marketing & Sales
The Progressive Accountant
An excuse to say ‘Hi’: LinkedIN
Any good business development person breaks the token sales rule – ABC – Always Be Closing. They follow a different rule – ABB – Always Be Building. LinkedIN is a perfect tool for building a relationship with someone over time. How? Conversations are the key to business development, and LinkedIN, if used correctly, is a conversation starter for professionals. One tip is to stop carrying business cards and instead immediately Link-IN with the people you meet via your smart phone. While this doesn’t fly if you are doing business in Asia, for example, it can fly here. This gives you a much easier way to contact people as well as expose them to a stream of information coming from your profile. All it takes to set up a profile is 20 concentrated minutes while at home in between a house project or your favorite sitcom. Continue reading “Social Media for Busy People”
