5 social networking tips for busy businesspeople

July 3, 2009 | Paul Boutin | Comments | |

comcastbonnieBonnie Smalley, known as @comcastbonnie to Comcast customers who tweet for help, replies to hundreds of messages daily across several social networks. How does she get it done?

In a story I just wrote for the New York Times, I spoke to Smalley, Mashable founder Pete Cashmore, and other high-volume networkers to get their social network efficiency tips. Here’s a bullet-list version of their advice (follow the link above for the more detailed write-up):

  • Set an avatar. Don’t change it. Others will use it to find your posts. A photo of you is best, like the one Bonnie uses for @comcastbonnie.
  • Install Tweetdeck or Seesmic Desktop rather than using your browser for Twitter and Facebook.
  • If you can’t resist networking during work hours, install LeechBlock on Firefox and schedule it to disable Twitter, YouTube, and other time-eating sites during your workday.
  • Take notes! Keep a notepad app of some sort open on your computer desktop. Write down anything interesting before you forget it.
  • If you’re worried what others will see, use Twitter’s Protect my updates option to allow only users whom you personally authorize to read what you tweet. This is considered heresy by many Internet evangelists, but not everyone wants to be the Queen of Overshare.

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About the Author, Paul Boutin

Paul (paul@venturebeat.com) covers Apple & the iPhone, social networks & social media, digital music & video, and any crazy Internet story. Paul wrote and edited for Valleywag from 2006-2008, after several years with Wired magazine and Slate. He writes regularly for The New York Times' technology section and sometimes for Wired and The Wall Street Journal. He studied computer science at MIT in the early 1980s, and worked as a software developer and network administrator for 15 years before becoming a professional writer. Follow him on Twitter at @paulboutin, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

  • thanks Paul for recommending Seesmic! Have a great week-end.
  • moeshoffa
    Thanks for your information
  • chleoku
    Good insights - here are some more useful job search and networking skillz:

    http://www.wealthalchemist.com/Blog/career-101/
  • Those bullet points were interesting, but I don't understand why tweetdeck is more effective than using twitter through the browser?
  • I like the notepad idea...always write down your ideas!
  • Good points but I'd disagree with protecting your updates. Don't bother using Twitter if you're going to do this. Use email.

    Very much agree with Tweetdeck though. It kills! The only way to manage it all by far.

    As to the avatar change, it can be part of your brand but I change it up sometimes to suit what I'm doing (new show releases, etc.). Also @chrisbrogan (a social media monster...in a good way) changes his pretty much week to week. I'd say your name is more key.

    Thanks

    Craig Moore
  • thanks , usefuly information :}
  • Jef
    I set up twitter to auto follow anyone that follows me and I also have all of my blog posts (I have four blogs) posts onto twitter. That saves me a ton of time. I'll have to check out tweetdeck one of these days as I am very, very busy.
  • A timely article -- because I just wrote an essay on social media exhaustion!

    http://snipurl.com/lyrz2

    I appreciate the tips but I fear it only hits the tip of the iceberg. The tsunamai of information + commitment to at least participate in the conversation + tech hassles + keeping up with change = significant new time commitments!

    OK, where else do we go with this? We need some real strategies to corral this bronco!

    Thanks for the article!

    Mark

    @markwschaefer
  • With its new tagging ability, Facebook has made its site a whole lot more appealing for small business owners. Small business owners have the ability to seek out the people talking about them and users can get their voices heard, knowing businesses can check to see who has tagged them. But before either party can take advantage of Facebook’s new feature, you first have to get your customers to opt into the relationship. You have to give them a reason to friend your Facebook Fan page, and that’s not always easy.
  • socialnetworking1
    Thanks for the tips.

    Social Networking Software