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Jamie Varon is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Jamie Varon and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Jamie Varon is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Jamie Varon and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
“Jamie! I told my mom to join Twitter because you said you can get jobs through there.” -Misguided friend
Social media is not merely about being plugged in. It’s about knowing what to do once you are. And, hell, I’m still learning. It wasn’t too long ago that I would not follow anyone on Twitter unless I knew them personally and then I’d wonder why my network was not growing.
The unbelievable power of social media is only as strong as its participants. The more we all put into it, the more powerful it becomes. LinkedIn wouldn’t be a viable place to find connections if people weren’t using it religiously. Twitter wouldn’t have nabbed a whole bunch of new funding without participants that rely on the micro-blogging platform to suit various needs.
My blog is only as relevant and influential as you all make it out to be. I am completely dependent on my readers, as is any other blog. (People writing solely for themselves excluded, but really, is anyone actually doing that for real? Be honest, most people want readers.) Twitter is completely dependent on their users. Same with Facebook and LinkedIn and the other kajillion social sites out there all vying for just a smidgen of our time.
And, Twitter is not a place to get jobs. Neither is LinkedIn. It’s not merely enough to sign up. It’s hardly enough to make a profile and have a few contacts. The better we all can learn to relate with our social media, the more effective we will be, whether we are using it to advance our career, spark social change, encourage community, etc.
We can’t anymore depend on just showing up. We need to be involved. We need to be a part of our communities. We need to be active participants in the flow of information that social media offers us. Because, truly, the ties of social media and the strength of its influence ebbs and flows with our own involvement. It’s in our hands. We have the control. Isn’t that empowering? I think it is. That makes me feel like I’m a part of something bigger than me.
Now, how will we use it? How will we control the power that’s at our fingertips? How great will our contribution be to aid the greatness of others?
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@Jamie: Awesome post. As a Community Manager part of my job is sharing the benefits of joining Brazen Careerist with our new and existing members. But sometimes, people sign up and ask me a week later: "Why hasn't [fill in the blank] happened yet?"
The most important thing to realize about social media is that what YOU put into it is what you'll get out of it. Solid communities will hire people like me to support the cause, but you need to know what you want and be proactive in order to get it.
Great realization. People can learn a lot from you.
-RP
Ryan -- I definitely know that this post was, in part, inspired by the conversations you and I have had about BC members putting into it what they want to get out of it.
When I first started using social media, I had no idea how to interact with it. But one day, not too long ago, it finally hit me and now I've been in the driver's seat with how I will use social media. And, the big thing for me was realizing that it takes effort, energy, and time to build community. But, you already know that! ;-)
Great post, Jamie! You are totally right. The point of all of these sites is to connect and network with people and signing up is only the first step. If people aren't willing to put in the time to build their network and search for others with common interests, similar jobs, etc., then why did they join? The power of Web 2.0 sites is truly amazing, and in my opinion, totally worth the time.
Thanks Samantha! It definitely is worth the time, if you're willing to put in the time necessary. =)
This is true, and a great follow-up would be to make suggestions about how to use sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to make connections and form bonds as the basis of a network.
"You get out what you put in" is an old phrase that gets tossed around a lot, but it's not terribly informative without some specifics to back it up.
@KateNonymous - Great post idea! I will do a follow up and give some tips and tricks on how to become better connected. You're right -- it's difficult when you present an idea without any steps to take.
Thanks for the input!
Great post! People are so focused on what they can get out of a social networking website that they miss out on the opportunity to connect with amazing people. Don't expect to get anything more than what you are willing to put in to social websites.
Agreed! I met an environmental entrepreneur last night here in Beijing, and when he asked me about social media, I gave him the exact same answer. I think that real connections are built one person at a time.
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