[07.04.09]
5 great comments!
Twitter. Like A Walk In The Park.
I wrote a post a few months back as a primer for folks who are new to Twitter. Who are looking for work and want to understand how social media can contribute to successful career networking. You can read that post below if you haven’t already . . .
Yes, there are people out there who are completely confused. They are also pushing back on those who suggest they “get going”.
Of course, the pushers are trying to help. They’ve seen the light.
So, today’s post is going to come at it a different way. It was inspired by two events yesterday.
First, a meeting with @NealSchaffer who is an expert at using Linkedin (you can read his blog called Windmill Networking). We talked a lot about Twitter, our philosophies re: connecting on Linkedin and about our plans to take over the world. Not necessarily in that order.
The second was my decision to go on a run. And the run itself. You see it has been a while since I ran the marathon. Too long.
Sure, I’ve run in the gym. But treadmills are more like a bounce house than a real run on hot pavement. Cars screaming by. Looking for shade (even if it added more distance to the run). It was hot yesterday.
After running a little under three miles, I stopped on the path and began to walk. And sweat. Looking for a water fountain. No luck.
Of course, I started thinking. A few new ideas came up for my other ideas blog. And I remembered something I always used to do when running during my 2007 job search. As I passed people, I always wondered:
What’s their story?
What’s important to them?
What do they do for a living?
So as I walked the remaining half mile on the path, I started doing this again. If I were to guess, during my walk I saw a university professor, a stay at home mom, a sales guy, a retired couple, a graphic artist and a barista. To name a few.
Now, you can say those are just judgments based on appearances. Yep. And I remember wishing I could know for sure.
Well, isn’t that kind of the value Twitter offers? Think of the Twitter stream as people walking past you in the park. And you are making judgments on them based on their avatars. Or lack thereof.
We all do that, right? Not just me?
The cool thing about Twitter is that you don’t have to guess any more. Most people using Twitter will tell you a few things about themselves. A quick summary. Those who don’t will get less value. If they use Twitter for business or blogging, they’ll tell you their url and you can go learn even more. You can then follow them, RT (re-tweet) an idea of theirs and begin a conversation and potentially a friendship.
All this from the comfort of your office chair, couch or swimming pool.
And until personal bios start popping up above the heads of walkers and runners on the path, Twitter is a great place to get to know the world, to network and, yes, potentially find a job.
So, for all of the regular followers here on Tim’s Strategy. And for all the casual observers who have yet to sign up for the feed or e-mail updates, go to Twitter today, create an account (before all the good names are gone) and get started.
Oh, start by following me @TimsStrategy. And follow Neal.
Yes, it will feel weird at first.
But keep going.
Written by: Tim Tyrell-Smith
Tags: Learning And Using Social Media | Social Networking | tweet | Twitter
Categories: Learning And Using Social Media
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