This is the LAST WEEK of the discounted pricing on the LinkedIn for Job Seekers DVD. Order here.
The Twitter Job Search Guide – Find a Job and Advance Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day.
I got this book about a week ago and was blown away – almost 200 pages of MEAT and SUBSTANCE on how to get value out of Twitter. How to find people, how to communicate, how use Twitter for personal branding, how Twitter fits into other social tools, what all the technical stuff means… I don’t really know what the authors could have left out? The book is phenomenal.
You can get one by answering today’s Giveaway – as usual, I’m not judging the responses – we’ll have Susan Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan and Deb Dib choose the winner!
When is social networking… LinkedIn, Twitter or whatever, TOO much?
In other words, how do you manage your time and efforts and have the right balance between what you do online and what you do offline?
Make sure you answer on this blog (not on Facebook or Twitter)… the question is open for a week!
When is social networking… LinkedIn, Twitter or whatever, TOO much?
Answer:
When the time invested exceeds the value gained. You can get sucked in, so you must learn how to aggregate and filter all info to keep it relevant and helpful, and avoid having it distract from your goals and objectives.
Answer: These tools become “too much” when they become your entire strategy. They, instead, need to be a supporting tool as part of a multi-faceted job search strategy. The foundation of that strategy must include actual personal contact (in-person or by telephone).
Successful job seekers make it a habit of stepping away from the computer and getting out to meet people and build strong relationships with contacts over time. Social media is a convenient way to maintain those relationships on an ongoing basis. I don’t mean to imply that social media cannot be used to connect with people in cases where personal contact is not an immediate viable option; but one should not rely solely on social media as their only connection to people. Social media tools should be viewed as tools in a tool belt but the belt itself needs to be an overall strategy of building personal relationships with individuals and maintaining them over time.
When you find yourself Tweeting responses to your own posts.
It’s too much when you can’t remember the last time you were literally face-to-face with your friends. Sometimes, it’s too much WAY before you get to this point. And it’s too much when you feel like you need to find a 12-step program for Twitter Freaks Anonymous.
When you start getting SPAMMED!
@Lori – LOL – that is pretty much on day 1!
When you feel like you have a social life, but haven’t left the house.
I will try to answer the second question here. I attempt to manage my networking time online and strike a balance with offline responsibilities by targetting times in my week for online activities. I don’t get lost in it any more (usually). I apply the same etiquette for meetings. If the meeting time is up, then schedule another meeting. Don’t keep running on and blow everybody’s schedule for the day. When it is time to plan out the next week, I reflect on the effectiveness of my past week – did I accomplish want I needed to online? Did it interfere with more important offline priorities? Just taking control and a little weekly planning has enabled me to maximize my time at work. Now, if I could just do this at home – when is that grass going to get cut?
Simple answer: When your online commitments hinder you from having a conversation IRL.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Jason:
Thanks for the query. It got me thinking and led to my latest post on What’s Next, Gen Y? Here’s the link: https://www.whatsnextgeny.com/8-signs-you%E2%80%99re-spending-too-much-time-on-social-media/
My #1 sign: You only know your “friends” by their Twitter IDs.
— Robin