In January 2007, I had never heard of Facebook or LinkedIn.  I had zero friends on either platform, but I had found myself out of a job and with no active network of colleagues that even knew that I had left my job, how to contact me, or that I was even looking for other opportunities.  When I told my friends I was interested in trying these online social networking sites, many of them were skeptical and wondered why I was wasting my time.

It is amazing to see how things have changed.  As I write this article, I have over 2,100 contacts on Facebook, over 1,300 contacts on LinkedIn, and a steady stream of people who are finding me everyday and sending me “friend requests” versus me trying to find them.  Even the friends that once ridiculed me are now sending friend requests.  As a result, I am often asked: “How did you get so many friends?”

How I Intentionally Connected to others on Social Networks:

1)      I searched for and added the friends and family that I knew best.

2)      I took an inventory of the individuals that I had met most recently. Then I worked backwards to include the following:

• Current and previous coworkers
• Business contacts (i.e. Rolodex, Outlook, etc.)
• Former Clients
• Neighbors (from each location where I’ve lived)
• Family members / relatives
• Graduate school classmates
• College classmates
• High school classmates
• Grammar school classmates
• Contacts from organizations I belong to:
  • Professsional associations
  • Social (e.g., fraternity, volleyball team, etc.)
  • Volunteer organizations

3)    Lastly, after people added me as a contact, I reviewed their “friends list” and added those individuals that we had in common.

Social Networking Stats and Considerations:

Social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are enabling technologies that allow individuals to connect with others across the world. CNBC estimates that over 750 million people use these sites worldwide. However, not only teens and college students use these sites: the fastest growing segment on Facebook consists of users over 45, and the number of individuals building their professional contacts on LinkedIn is growing everyday. Networking via the Internet can help you find the resources, people, and information to further your personal and professional goals; however, there are some things to keep in mind when going online.

When in Doubt, Ask Mom:

If there is something that you would not say to your mother, do not say it to a broader audience on your profile online. I treat people with the same level of respect everywhere I go, and that includes over the Internet. I suggest that you do the same across all social networking platforms and especially on professional networks such as LinkedIn. This is particularly important because written language can easily be misinterpreted or misconstrued. Lastly, remember that your comments on the Internet have a “long tail” and once indexed can stay associated with you forever.

You never know who may find your profile and, if you are not careful, you may offend a potential employer, business partner, or friend. It is estimated that 78 percent of hiring H.R. professionals use LinkedIn as a hiring tool. You often do not get to choose how or where people find you; however, you can choose to be yourself, to be thoughtful, and to be kind to everyone you meet, regardless whether that’s through a face-to-face encounter or online.

Share Information Worth Sharing:

I often see individuals update their profile status on either Facebook or Twitter with personal information that I would classify as “TMI” – Too Much Information.” Although sharing what you had for breakfast may help you pass your day, others really want you to share important things like life changes (i.e. birth of children, marriage, etc.) or things that affect them, such as volunteer opportunities or inspirational quotes.

It is important that you use these sites to share important things that are relevant to your audience, not every single detail of your life.  If your contacts see that you post things that are meaningful, they are more apt to share the same types of information and to pay attention when you update your status.

Finally, it is important to limit the amount of personal information you post. I do not put my home address, date of birth, or other personal information online. I want to protect others from misusing your information to spam or to steal your identity. In addition, Internet social networking sites help me to filter and to control the level of contact that I have with others.

Remember, Your Friends Reflect on You:

I have often seen individuals make a controversial comment or start a controversial debate online. There is nothing wrong with this, but these comments may spark spirited debates among your friends that can get ugly quickly. As I have recommended, show people the respect that they deserve but also expect your friends to do the same. Talk about ideas and do not gossip about individuals, and expect others to do the same. If your online “friends” do not show respect to you or others in your network, politely point out the error in their ways, and how it makes you feel. If they continue to show disrespect, then it is time to consider “de-friending” them. Keep in mind that you are judged by the company you keep.

Share Your Gifts:

As millions of Americans find themselves unemployed, they realize how hard it is to reach out to others or to answer the dreaded question “What do you do?” without the shame or guilt associated with not having a job to go to, especially in a society driven by status and celebrity.  Therefore, it is best to start networking before times get difficult.

Social networking can take a lot of time but it is worth the effort because you can enrich your life and the lives of others by taking time to know individuals and to let them know you. Realize that you are valuable and that you have gifts, knowledge, and other things to offer everyone you meet. Your task is to understand who people are, what they need, and how to help them to reach their goals. After you acknowledge and help others, then focus on what you need and most people will be glad to help you.

Sanjay  K. Gupta’s Social Media Presence:

http://www.facebook.com/sanjaygupta.chicago

http://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaykgupta

http://www.foursquare.com/skg092

http://www.twitter.com/skg092

If you would like Sanjay K. Gupta to give a talk about Intentional Networking to your organization, please feel free to contact us at 773-426-5028 or e-mail Sanjay at sanjay@kreativenterprises.com.