Recently, I was interviewed by Today's Financial Women magazine, which is published by Financial Women International. During the interview, I was asked about my usage and insight into online social networking sites. I am honored because I was interviewed in the same pair of articles as BNI founder, Dr. Ivan Misner. Since it is a member's only and print magazine, I have included the article below. The article is featured in the Spring 2008 edition.
Use Social Networking Sites Wisely
Although they're no substitute for face time, online networking sites have a valid place in establishing business connections.
Websites such as Linkedln, Plaxo, Ecademy Spoke and XING are designed for business professionals. They offer a way to highlight your resume and credentials, keep track of former colleagues, and potentially attract referrals. You make new contacts by searching for people you know or by viewing other users' networks and requesting introductions.
For the most part, using the sites is free; fee-based memberships grant greater access and other benefits.
According to reports, Linkedln has 17 million members with 42,000 newcomers each day. Average age of users is 41; average annual salary is $108,000. Special groups exist for those with 500 or more "connections" in their network.
"Linkedln and Plaxo and those places are great places to get information," said BNI's Hazel Walker. "I can throw questions out and get my network to respond back to me, which has really helped me write great articles."
The social networking sites also serve as a search-engine magnet, potentially putting your bio or resume in front of people who are looking for more information about you online, explained Jason Jacobsohn, a small-business adviser who writes the blog Networking Insight.
Jacobsohn, who has more than 200 individuals in his Linkedln network, says the site is just one more tool he uses to reach out to people, in addition to his website, blog and Facebook profile.
His advice is to use discretion when accepting "invitations" to join others' networks on Linkedln or other sites -especially if you don't already know the other person. "To me, there's no value in that. If someone is local, I will ask him or her if we can meet first before I add that connection. That way, I have that person as a resource," he said.
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