Build your own Build your own Opportunity NetworkOpportunity Network

Getting Started with Social Networking

Steve Woodruff www.stevewoodruff.com (Twitter: @swoodruff)

Why should you care about Why should you care about social networking?social networking?

You (and others) are the source of your future opportunities, not “the company”

Google is your new resume – either you will project your professional image, or someone else will

Who Cares about Who Cares about Professional Networking?Professional Networking?AdvancersJob-SeekersHiring ManagersLearnersPotential EntrepreneursSuppliersJunior people, Senior people,

Extroverts, Introverts, Techies, non-Geeks…people with a vision for connection

Social Networking: Social Networking: ExplodingExploding

Facebook: 100 million -> 200 million in 8 months

Twitter: yearly growth rate: 1,382%

LinkedIn: total minutes on site doubled Dec -> Jan

YouTube: in March, reached 100 million monthly viewers

What is an “Opportunity What is an “Opportunity Network”?Network”?“Safety net” – fear and

circumstance-driven“Opportunity network” –

confidence and future-drivenGreatest opportunities, for you

and others, will be through ties of shared interest, sympathy, and connections

Where do I start??Where do I start??

?

The “Why” - Networking The “Why” - Networking GoalsGoalsEstablish your reputation on-lineOpen connection channels with

key peopleHelp others with their needsFind professional opportunitiesLearn and growStrengthen “strong ties” and

create “weak ties”

The “How Much”: The “How Much”: Participation LevelsParticipation Levels

Open Web Networking

Engaging with Private Communities

Lifestreaming

Formal Connecting

Passive Outposting

Transparency

Disclosure

Interaction

Passive OutpostingPassive OutpostingAdding your basic information to

on-line repositories such as Visual CV, LinkedIn, etc.

Allows you to be “find-able” on-line

Join to an early strategy of “lurking” (reading and listening) to get a feel for the social networking world

Formal ConnectingFormal ConnectingReaching out and becoming a

“connection” with trusted individuals you know.

LinkedIn very common for this on the professional level; Facebook on a personal level

Begins to open up access to wider networks (friends of friends)

LifestreamingLifestreamingMore open sharing of multiple

dimensions of lifeUsually more focused on status

updates, picture sharing, etc.Facebook and Twitter very

popular for lifestream sharingProfessionals may struggle to

reach a comfort level with this

Engaging with Private Engaging with Private CommunitiesCommunitiesCountless focused (generally

invite-only or private) communities exist around specific areas of interest

These “walled gardens” allow for a freer level of sharing without exposing info to the broader web

Open Web SharingOpen Web SharingYour writings and comments are

open to the worldBlogs, Twitter, and other open

platforms expose you to a wide audience, with little control

Can vastly extend your opportunity network

Must embrace privacy/publicity tradeoff

Tips for Effective Tips for Effective NetworkingNetworkingSTART!Be givingBroaden your baseBuild consistently and pro-activelyJoin communities (virtual and real)Find a good local coffee shop – you’ll

be meeting new people face to face!Find super-connectors/Be a

connector

Social Networking Social Networking CautionsCautionsGoogle never forgets – think twice

about what you share/uploadTransparency with care – learn to

be yourself, with limitsSeparation of company/personal

informationDon’t think short-term – building

an opportunity network is a long-term, incremental process

So….Let’s START!So….Let’s START!Answer for yourself….Who are you?Where do you bring the most value?What are your professional goals?What kind of network would you like

to build?Note: use the Personal Branding

exercise (Appendix in free Getting Started in Social Networking e-book – see next slide)

ResourcesResourceshttp://bit.ly/getstarted(free, step-by-step e-book to help

you get started with social networking, full of helpful links and instructions for using the most common platforms)