Online networking – a fine line between pleasure and pain!

Facebook, linkedin, twitter…where to start, if you dare.

There are two types of online user – the Dabbler – where you rarely log on and then forget your password and then there’s the Sinker.

The line between social and professional online networking is now more of a smudge. It’s ok to have a family picture on your linked in profile, just as its ok to have a corporate facebook profile. You can jump onto the sites from your mobile these days but why would you?

I am a huge fan of Linkedin.com and regularly post polls, start discussions and answer career related questions. Not only do I do this to research and support myambition.com’s content but also because I love the fact you can interact with a huge audience and get pretty much immediate feedback. OK I am nosey!

Facebook – for me that’s my personal networking tool. I only use it to keep in touch with family and friends. Some people do choose to have their profile freely ’searchable’ which has caused a few hiccups with employers checking out potential employees as a pre-screen. Naughty? Well if you put updates on there you got to be able to accept what comes of it.

Twitter – it was confusing to me at first but now I realise this is simply a short blog, amongst a group of people that you find interesting and in turn find you interesting. Not quite friends (facebook) and not quite networking (linked in). I do find it a challenge keeping this up to date. If it were not on my iphone I would have forgotten the password!

Tips to get familiar with the world of online networking:

1. Set yourself atleast an hour (time flies) where you can freely browse, snoop, and research whether it is for you.
2. Create your profile- even if this is a minimal profile.
3. When reading other people’s blogs etc connect to their online networking profiles.
4. If you are not sure how to use any of the networking sites just type into google “how to use XX” you will be amazed at what comes up.
5. Finally – know when to stop…it can get quite addictive!

Look forward to connecting…