A majority of us witnessed the viral up-rising of Facebook while in college; we latched on and never looked back. We wake up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee, and connect to the world-wide web. Facebook, email, instant messengers, and other social networking sites keep us connected twenty-four hours a day.
When was the last time you did not connect to the web? I bet you can’t remember. Nearly 266 million people access the internet in North America alone (as cited in “Internet Usage,” 2010). That’s nearly 78% of the entire population [North America].
Depending on your career aspirations or your business’s vertical, Facebook can be an effective way to network professionally. According to Neal Schaffer (2010), companies are spending almost 20% of their total marketing budgets on social media.
What does this mean for you as a career professional? It means there is an increased likelihood of potential employers and businesses seeing your social networking profiles.
Unless you want your future boss to see a photo of the night you decided to moonlight as a karaoke professional after one-too-many margaritas, I’d keep the social networking for your eyes (and your friend’s) only.
Tips for maintaining a “clean” social networking profile:
- Use social sites such as Facebook only to build relationships with your friends
- Limit the amount of images/photos you and your friends post
- Examine your profile carefully and decide what you want potential employers and business contacts to see
I contributed this article to a professional network: WDM New View
Internet usage statistics; the internet big picture. (2010, June 30). Retrieved on May 18, 2011, from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
Schaffer, Neal. (2010, December 14). LinkedIn vs. Facebook for business in 2011-The battle begins. Retrieved on May 18, 2011, from http://socialmediatoday.com/nealschaffer/252062/linkedin-vs-facebook-business-2011-battle-begins
The ultimate list: 40 social networking sites specifically for small business, entrepreneurs, and startups. (2010, February 2). Retrieved on May 18, 2011, from http://smallbizbee.com/index/2010/02/02/ultimate-list-40-social-networking/
These are some great tips Kari! I didn't know about some of those other sites that are good ones to follow, but they have some very helpful information. I think we are all aware of the negative potentials that social media can play in our professional careers, so by being more cautious and using protocol mentioned here we will be be more successful in balancing the two areas of our lives.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of important information on here that many professionals need to read. The information that is out there is amazing! Even upper-management at my former employers have their profiles completely open and the pictures and comments are not professional. The people that report to them may see them in a different light because of this. Your social life is no longer for "your eyes only" when you use social media, and you need to use the preferences to keep your privacy. The information on the social media sites can and will effect your career.
ReplyDeleteKeeping a lid on your social activities gets harder every year and these ideas seek to minimize that struggle. I did not realize there were so many different sites offering similar types of experiences. Some seem more professional than others but don't seem to have the draw of Facebook. Facebook is a world of its own and anyone or company seeking to grow in the world needs to be mindful of what they allow the world to see of themselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is actually something I have been wondering about a lot this year: how to manage my web image. I'll be the first to admit that I've had things posted by myself or others that I would hate an employer to see, but what have I missed? What things are still out there that I deem acceptable, but they would see as warning signs? Sure there are the drunken photos or innuendos meant as a joke to friends that aren't necessarily appropriate, but what am I missing? This concept slightly terrifies me as it makes me paranoid of everything I post or get tagged in.
ReplyDelete