Social Networking to Boost Your Career

[seanmcleod]

I'm now on twitter and was wondering if any other DVX users are on? you can find me at twitter.com/seanmcleod

I'm just trying to focus on the networking part of the biz and I think online networking could be a full time job. Anyone have any tips or ideas as to what they do to network and get there work out there?

[Zak Forsman]

/zakforsman

[bmxbud4130]

twitter.com/b_dickman (http://twitter.com/b_dickman)

I think twitter could be a great tool if you're connected with the right people.

[seanmcleod]

Definitely is... Ive seen it first hand... when's DVXuser gonna get a twitter page going!?!?

[mcgeedigital]

Between and linkedin, I don't have time to tell people every time I go get a sandwich.

[seanmcleod]

Yeah but that's just a misconception about what twitter is... People who don't have anything to say may talk about daily minutia, but when you're a professional and you're networking you can meet and chat with people all over, tell people about the services you offer, find a bigger audience for your films/videos, etc. etc. Linkedin is good but it's stagnant, someone checks out your profile, sees what they see, and doesn't have any real reason to go back very often if at all, but with twitter it's constantly updating and creates a reason to check back, to see whats been going on.

It's kind of funny that you think its about sandwiches when CNN has twitter, many celebrities, many websites like FreelanceSwitch, and now Oprah... you think they're all talking about their lunch orders?

[KSommer]

Im on Twitter as Tarheels50fan

[mcgeedigital]

It's kind of funny that you think its about sandwiches when CNN has twitter, many celebrities, many websites like FreelanceSwitch, and now Oprah... you think they're all talking about their lunch orders?

I update my Facebook daily on what I am doing professionally. I log in and see what my other professional friends are doing once a day there and, boom, I'm updated.

I'm sure there are many people posting relevant tidbits on twitter that other people might like to read, but if I am "twitting" every little thought all though the day, then yes it does become more noise than substance.

I don't really care if Oprah and CNN is doing it, that just means it is part of pop culture.

[seanmcleod]

Valid points, but you're missing an avenue with which to network. Myspace was replaced by facebook, and I don't think Twitter is going to replace Facebook, but I have followers on twitter that I wouldnt have gotten on facebook, ie B_Dickman. He shares some cool ideas and products on Twitter that are relevant to me. And yes if you do tweet every single thing you do the valuable stuff would get lost in the shuffle. There's an art to sharing personal and business stuff in tandem so the people who follow you get your message, but don't feel like you're just a salesman.

Obviously it's your choice but it's just another way to expand your reach and to dismiss it and everyone who uses it as just meaningless is very inaccurate. That's all I'm saying. I sound like I work for twitter now so that's all I say on this issue, haha.

[DPStewart]

I am finding twitter to be nearly useless. 140 characters? I have not ever seen anything that tells me, or shows me anything that makes a difference to anything.
Facebook at least allows photos and videos and long statements to be centrally displayed by user. This has been a great resource for finding people, seeing exactly what they do, where they are, and their own explanations of why.

[grinner]

LinkedIn is better for professional networking. Twitter is more of a self-created popularity contest. I am on myspace, Twitter, linkin, facebook, ect and to date, have never scored a simgle gig as a direct result of any of these.
Middle aged women I knew in grade school and wish they had gotten married are about the only responses I get from any of these.

[DPStewart]

LinkedIn is better for professional networking. Twitter is more of a self-created popularity contest. I am on myspace, Twitter, linkin, facebook, ect and to date, have never scored a simgle gig as a direct result of any of these.
Middle aged women I knew in grade school and wish they had gotten married are about the only responses I get from any of these.

Oh man!
I'm laughin'!!!!!
That is SO how it is!

[seanmcleod]

well I mean it's all in how you use it... I have actually gotten three music jobs through being on Twitter and never anything on Facebook. But I use facebook for personal stuff mostly and to show my work. But I mean again, with any website or web based app, it's what you make of it or how you use it. You could post your whole portfolio on YouTube and never have anyone watch any of it. It doesn't mean YouTube is worthless, it justs means you aren't maximizing it's potential.

The one thing I would say on the topic of social networking is to find three or maybe four sites that work for you. You like the way they work, and you can use them to reach your audience. And use the living hell out of those. It doesn't have to be twitter, it doesn't have to be Facebook or Myspace, but whatever it is, it's only what you make of it that will determine it's usefulness to you.