Social Networking

Speaking at SharePoint Saturday Raleigh on Nov. 7th

Adam McKee — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:41:23 GMT

Hey everyone,

I'm super-excited (and a little nervous) that I was given a speaking slot at SharePoint Saturday Raleigh on Nov. 7th! (Link goes to presentation overview.)

There are quite a few SharePoint heavy-hitters attending (Michael Gannotti, Dan Lewis, and Joshua Carlisle to name a few), so go register today - seats are filling fast!

Cheers,

Adam

Being Social at a Networking Event

Adam McKee — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:06:40 GMT

We've all been there... It's the feeling you get the first time you walk into a large social networking event. You're like a tadpole in a pool of sharks, all of whom are leagues smarter and more experienced than you, and they are all waiting for the right moment to eat you - or worse - humiliate you when you say something that might disagree with their pedigree.

The truth is that nobody knows anybody (except, perhaps, the speakers.... but generally speaking, they didn't get to speak because they bullied their way to the podium), and they are all just as nervous as you. For all they know, you're the next Joel Oleson, and they are scared of you.

It's because of this pervasive fear that I thought I'd share this great 5-minute video on lifehacker.com that I saw today on how to be social amongst large groups of people you don't know. The video is geared towards parties in general, but the concepts remain relevant to help you get over the fear of networking.

Building a Personal Brand with Social Networking

Adam McKee — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:46:26 GMT

The ease at which anyone can build a personal brand is one of the most profound implications of web-based social networking. Thanks to the advent of ubiquitous (and free) social networking applications, everyone in the world is limited only by their imagination on how to go about building their own personal brand.

Keep in mind that your goal in building an online personal brand is to enable people to quickly determine your credibility, and what they can expect to consume from you when they come across your online presence.

Be kind. This seems pretty obvious, but you don't have to look very far to see someone waxing eloquent on why they hate something (or someone) in the social networking space. While it's gratifying to stick it to whomever is causing you angst, be aware that your words will follow you. Don't say anything that you couldn't say to someone's face.

Be available. When you're asked for help, give it without expectation of the return favor. Nothing communicates credibility better than freely adding value. Go out of your way to offer help if you have to - if someone on Twitter has a problem that you might be able to solve, offer assistance.

Be yourself. Don't be afraid to add some personal flavor to what you add to cyberspace. Sometimes a snarky remark speaks more to your understanding of someone's condition than trying to correct someone's problem.

Be specific. Being an expert doesn't mean having all of the answers to all of the questions that come into your social network. Find your niche, and own it.

Some Practical Ideas

Have a consistent handle across all of the social networking applications. This will make it far easier for someone to google you and find you.
Make sure you add a current picture to all of your profiles. Pictures automatically add credibility.
Don't assume that having a Facebook page will be enough. Find where people go for answers in your field of expertise and create a profile there, and start helping people.