Social Networking Netiquette

Invite friends, co-workers, and other professionals — and friends of friends, co-workers and professionals to join your network. Don’t invite anyone and everyone. Be selective.

You can say, “no, thank you.” No one can force you to join a network. If you can’t say no (maybe because it’s a client), you can always accept the invitation and then go back to the network a day or two later and remove yourself.

Consider their answer to be “No, thank you.” If you invite someone and they ignore your invitation, consider their answer to be no, thank you.

Build it and they will come. Don’t be pushy and try to sell your goods. Establish relationships first.

SOCIAL NETWORKING TIPS:
Do your Homework. Don’t accept every offer to join a social networking group. Do some research. Find out which one is best for you.

Understand the Site Culture and Rules. Each site has them. So be sure to adhere.

Use Caution. Make sure your profile doesn’t include anything you wouldn’t want a prospective client or boss to see. Be careful as to what information you give out.

Toot your own Horn. It’s important to keep your profile updated, along with what you are working on and the successes you are having. Also, it isn’t mandatory to include your photo.

Your Reputation is “On the Line”. Keep your promises. Do what you say you will do. If you say that you will make a make recommendation or introduction, do it.

Prepare to Meet Face-to-Face. Online relationships don’t have to stay there. If you think that a face-to-face meeting will be beneficial, you should plan one. Be courteous with someone’s time and know beforehand what you want from the meeting

FAVORITE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES:
www.youtube.com
www.myspace.com (the largest membership of any social networking site on the Internet)
www.digg.com (discover and share content, by submitting links and stories. Vote and comment on submitted links and stories)
www.facebook.com (initially intended for college students – has now branched out to everyone including corporate America)
Meetup.com (a great way to find out about offline group meetings around the world)
www.justin.tv (live streaming video)
www.flickr.com (not only a great storage place for photos, but it is a social network)
www.linkedin.com (powerful business networking tool based on 6 degrees of separation)
www.twitter.com (microblogging. You choose who is allowed to follow you and who you follow. Up-to-date information)
wwwactiverain.com (one of the most popular real estate networks)

Marketing maven Angela Rutzick was one of Boston's 2008 top ten Marketing Agencies by Boston Women's Business Journal and received a Quest Excellence Award for community involvement in 2009. She has over 20 years making her business to understand your business. You can reach her @ Angela@e-dds.com