With the rise of social networking among high school, college, and professionals in the field, it has become necessary to recognize the importance of what messages you are putting out there for others to see. A rising percentage of companies are using social networking sites to check out candidates. Even colleges are beginning to use these sites to find out more about their applicants.
Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook offer opportunites to post a host of personal and professional experiences, information, and even photos. You can also block information and make it available only to those you select to be able to view what you have posted.
LinkedIn is a social networking site for professionals and provides an opportunity for them to connect and communicate with people working in specific fields of interest. LinkedIn also offers an opportunity to connect with people who know people you know in your network. As social networking sites grow, it becomes more important than ever for those posting on these sites to do so with care by being cautious not to divulge information that might be harmful in your college and/or job search efforts.
- Facebook and Professional Networking
- MySpace and Job Searching
- LinkedIn Job Search
- College Admission Officers Use Social Networks to Conduct Background Checks
- Corporate Recruiters Use Social Networks to Conduct Background Checks
Logo Courtesy of LinkedIn
Good article on social networking. I use most of the large social networks for both personal and business. I have found that sites such as FaceBook and Twitter can be utilized as great marketing resources but you do need to start off slowly and build relationships with your followers before doing any marketing.
S . Myers
Below is a list of what I feel are the major “real” benefits of social networking
Establish a Brand and Raise Awareness
Since the majority of the population is already visiting social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, getting your brand name all over those networks can help let people know that you’re around. If you have yet to create a company image online, social networks are the place to do it.
Create a fun YouTube video that entertains and informs. Funny videos tend to make their way around the Internet a lot faster than any other kind, so when making a video, keep in mind that you want it to be interesting enough for your target audience to want to share. Using Facebook and Twitter to create a fun online community that your customers will want to visit will boost brand loyalty and drive traffic to your Website, allowing you the chance to make more online sales.