There are some definite rules about friending people online, that can keep you out of a lot of trouble. Here are some basic thoughts on connecting with people online.
1. When making business contacts, be careful which networks you add them to. LinkedIn is good. Twitter is pretty good. Probably would not add them to Facebook, unless you have a Fan Page for your business life. Keep Facebook for your inner circle.
2. If you make a new personal friend, you may want to apply the opposite logic. Don't add them to LinkedIn, unless you are doing business with them. Facebook is OK. Twitter is OK. Remember with Twitter, though, that it gets hard to follow more than around 100 people well. Then, it becomes a business tool.
3. If you are trying to use social media to meet new people for romance, good luck! Stay away from LinkedIn. Facebook may be OK, but if you strike out, do you want all your friends to know you crashed and burned? Twitter no. Just use common sense, too much stalking can scare the heck out of anyone. Better stick to trying to get a phone number, or permission to send an email sometime.
That's my take on it.
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Top advice on making social media friends, cheers pal
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on how much you use these sites, and what you use them for. If every Facebook update or Twitter Tweet is about how drunk you got at the weekend and how much you hate your boss it's probably not the place to add a business contact...
ReplyDeleteI understand your point Pat but at least Facebook/Twitter gives you a chance to show a bit of your personality. Better a full FB profile than an bare LinkedIn one in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteGood, sound advice about making friends on social media sites. I’ve had bad experiences on Facebook and LinkedIn, though Twitter seems fairly safe (for now...)
ReplyDeleteAdding business contacts on Facebook or Twitter is bound to turn out badly. Even if you don't post a drunken photo of yourself someone else will! Or they will recall a time you badmouthed your boss down the pub. Best leave it to Linkedin.
ReplyDeleteI don't add business contacts to any social media sites? If you're already working with them they don't need to see your CV (LinkedIn) and they DEFINITELY don't need to know about your personal life (Facebook/Twitter) so I'd rather stick with email and have a bit more control over what they know about me.
ReplyDeleteThe simple answer to friending people online? Don't. Get a life and meet some real people!
ReplyDeleteRead the article Jack – this isn’t about chatrooms and dating sites, it’s about reinforcing business relationships and giving them on online presence by friending colleagues/clients.
ReplyDeleteI second Jackie. Sorry Jack, but you obviously didnt read the article properly
ReplyDelete"When making business contacts, be careful which networks you add them to. LinkedIn is good. Twitter is pretty good." I get LinkedIn but Twitter... how is having business contacts on Twitter any use at all?
ReplyDeleteGood point Stevo, I don't get it either. What does being Facebook friends add to any business relationship (apart from the opportunity to professionally poke one another)?
ReplyDeleteHow many things can I say about number 3? "If you are trying to use social media to meet new people for romance Facebook may be OK, but if you strike out, do you want all your friends to know you crashed and burned?" ... "too much stalking can scare the heck out of anyone" ... "better stick to trying to get a phone number, or permission to send an email sometime". OR JUST GO OUT AND MEET REAL PEOPLE FOR GOD'S SAKE!
ReplyDeleteShouldn't it be 'How to Befriend People Online'? Sorry to be picky. Great article otherwise
ReplyDelete