Social Networking: Today s Communication Tools June 19, 2012 Grace Thompson, SPHR, CTC

Transcription

1 Social Networking: Today s Communication Tools June 19, 2012 Grace Thompson, SPHR, CTC 1 Learning Objectives Discuss the various social media tools Enhance knowledge of how to use the tools of social networking Examine the benefits of social media as a networking tool for both personal and professional growth Social Media is Changing Our World Retrieved from: OTY0N/Turning_Social_Media_Into_Professional_Networking_flash_ppt_presentation 1

2 Did You Know? Social networking is still the fastest-growing active social media behavior online. Facebook has 845 million active users and over one billion Facebook posts per day. There are over 465 million Twitter accounts. The US has million Twitter accounts. The US represents 28.1 percent of all Twitter users. There are more iphones sold per day (402k) than people born in the world per day (300k). Poll: How Connected Are You? A. I have several social media accounts. B. I have two or three social media accounts. C. I have one social media account. D. I do not have any social media accounts. Social Networking Platforms: Who Is It Acceptable to Connect With? Facebook: Connect with people whom you personally know, whom you ve met in person, and who would know your name if asked. LinkedIn: Connect with people you know or have met, and then utilize their connections to meet people who are just one degree away. Twitter: Connect with anyone and everyone! Many people like to connect with others who are in their area or their industry. You do not need to know people personally to follow them, and people whom you do not necessarily know may follow you! Note: Your kids may choose not to connect with you! And that s okay! 2

3 Give Yourself a Platform for Others to Connect to You Many small businesses use social media as an exposure mechanism. The predominant tools that are used: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Blogs The goal is to put a human face on your business relationships, and give people an impression of what it would be like to work with you. Most social marketers view social media as a validator of expertise and a risk reduction mechanism, rather than a direct marketing tool. Can also lead to being viewed as a source of credibility by the media Source: Social Networking Tools Gain Ground with Business Leaders. Available at business-users.htm LinkedIn LinkedIn is the world s largest professional network. With over 120 million members, LinkedIn is growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broad network of professionals. Retrieved from: Twitter: Because Tweeting Isn t Just for Birds Twitter is a microblogging service where users submit textbased posts, tweets, of up to 140 characters in length via The website - Short message service - SMS or text message External applications Senders can restrict delivery of their tweets to selected users or can allow anybody to access them. Users can choose to follow others in order to view their tweets. Twitter is the fastest-growing social networking site in the world. In February, the age group with the most users on Twitter was 35 to 49; with nearly 3 million unique visitors, comprising almost 42 percent of the site s audience. It is common to follow strangers on Twitter, in comparison to Facebook, where it is not. 3

4 Facebook Facebook has several different useful options: personal profiles, fan pages, group pages, target marketing, fliers, event pages, and more. Facebook is one of the best ways to connect your personality and individuality with your company and industry and bring a face to your professional presence. Facebook is a great information resource and a useful tool to generate dialogue. Blogs A blog is a personal journal published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries (posts) typically displayed in reverse chronological order, so the most recent post appears first. Blogs are usually the work of a single individual, occasionally of a small group, and often are themed on a single subject. Many blogs provide commentary on a particular subject, while others function as more personal online diaries. Other blogs function more as online brand advertising for a particular individual or company. Definition retrieved from Ning Ning is an online platform where users can create their own social websites and social networks. Top organizers, marketers, influencers, and activists use Ning to create an online destination that weaves social conversations in content and inspires action. 4

5 Poll: How Much Time Do You Spend on Social Media Each Day? A. Less than an hour B. 1 to 2 hours C. 2 to 4 hours D. 4 to 6 hours E. 6 to 8 hours F. More than 8 hours Top Five Reasons to Use Social Networks: 1. Find a new or better job. 2. Learn more about your industry, and become smarter and more valuable at work. 3. Let people get to know you, your capabilities, your business, and your passion. 4. Give people a way to easily find and connect with you - for your business, for opportunities, or as a friend. 5. Connect with others who have similar interests. Chart retrieved from: 1. Career Growth Fact: It is who you know that can help you get your foot in the door. Keep your resume updated and easily searchable. Request endorsements and offer them to others. Use your connections to find key people within the organization of interest. 5

6 2. Connect With Industry Leaders and Learn More About Your Industry Remain current on your industry news, trends, updates, and best practices. Connect with other experts and share relevant links and articles. Learn more about your industry. 3. Get to Know Others and Let Others Get to Know You Allow people to see the face behind the business, as people do business with other people. Give people the opportunity to see your personality. Establish solid relationships with others by building rapport and trust. 4. Help Others Find Easy Ways to Connect With You Establish your identity by building your name and your brand. Allow others to connect with you in several different ways. You want people to be able to find and connect with you in a way that is easy and convenient. 6

7 5. Connect With Others Who Have Similar Interests Connect to people who share your interests, not just professional, but also personal. Give people an opportunity to see who you are, beyond just your job. Discover resources for your hobbies and passions. Poll: I See Value in Using Social Media for Networking Do you agree or disagree? A. Agree B. Disagree What Business Problems Can Social Media Solve? Maintaining a recruiting and contracting channel to find needed talent (LinkedIn, Twitter) Finding out what your customers think about you/your product or service (Twitter, Facebook fan pages) Collaboration among geographically separated employees and customers (Yammer) Knowledge management (Ning, Slinkset, del.icio.us) Sharing presentations (SlideShare) Sharing documents (Google Documents, Scribd) Quick and easy collaboration (Dabbleboard) Source: Social Networking Tools Why Your Business Should be Using Them Available at 7

8 Business Case for Social Media Retrieved from: A Facebook Success Story for Seth and Melissa Seth and Melissa desired to adopt a child. Seth posted the flyer on his Facebook page. Seth s friend, John, reposted the flyer to his page. A Facebook friend of John saw the post and shared it with his wife. The wife shared the flyer with a co-worker who was pregnant and wanted a good home for her unborn child. Seth and Melissa are the proud adoptive parents of Noah. Retrieved from: Remember the Benefits of Social Media Career growth and development Remaining current in one s industry and learning about others Connecting with people from all over the globe Developing a personal and professional brand and reputation 8

9 Resources Contact your EAP or Work-Life Program for Assistance Works Cited Social Networking Tools Gain Ground with Business Leaders. Available at 2/articles/54720-social-networking-tools-gaining-ground-with- business-users.htm Retrieved from: Hull, J. (n.d.). Turning Social Media Into Professional Networking. Retrieved from king_flash_ppt_presentation Hull, J. (n.d.). Social Networking 201. Retrieved from Pring,C. (2012). 100 More Social Media Stats for retrieved from Thank You! Questions??? 9