Social networking tips and success stories

I’m quoted in the July issue of Cleveland  Business Connects magazine, explaining why I’m in love with Twitter, the free micro-blogging tool. (“It takes far less time than many other social networking tools and can produce incredibly powerful results.”)

Publicity Hound Lynne Meyer, APR, who reads my ezine, The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week, asked if she could interview me when she saw me including items about Twitter in my newsletter.

Social networking still has its skeptics. But they’d find it hard to argue with three success stories Lynne included in her article.

Blogger George Nemeth landed his new job as search engine marketing specialist at Optiem through his LinkedIn network. “They sent out a LinkedIn invitation to their connections looking for resumes for project manaers,” he recalls. “I responded and got the job.”

George also uses Twitter and Twitterlocal.net, which lets him connect with other Twitterers within a  20-mile radius by inputing zip codes. He publicizes himself to the local community and has “become a defacto technology guru locally.”

I love the story of Jeanette Davisson, who got laid off from her job as a manager at a Cleveland construction company and decided it was time to start her own interior decorating company, ASD Interior Design. She invited some of her prior contacts to connect with her on LinkedIn. They did. She connected with a property management firm, submitted a quote for one of their projects, and got the assignment. 

If you’re not participating in social networking, now’s the time to start. My article How to Use Twitter for Business or Publicity will get you started. If you’ve already created a LinkedIn profile, or you’re thinking of creating one, don’t miss the two teleseminars I’m hosting next week with social networking expert Scott Allen. He will explain How to Use LinkedIn to Promote–Ethically and Powerfully.

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  • Sharon - Inspirational Nonfiction

    I’ve been resisting becoming a twitter user, but you’ve convinced me Joan. All of your information is so helpful especially as we finalize our new book and look for ways to promote it. Thanks!

  • Jonathan Bernstein

    Social networking has really helped my business, particularly LinkedIn. I have, as of today, 242 LinkedIn contacts that connect to 4+ million professionals. I landed one of my best clients — craigslist — because the person searching for a firm like mine looked at LinkedIn first. And I’ve used it to get answers to a number of important business questions.

    Don’t underestimate the continued power of email listservs, too. The PRMindShare listserv, which comes out of the Yahoo Group by that name, is more than 200 PR professionals who have provided me with an amazing amount of useful information — and I have answered their various questions as well.

    Jonathan Bernstein
    President
    Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc.

  • Joan

    Jonathan, congratulations on landing Craigslist through LinkedIn. I knew CL was your client but hadn’t realized how you achieved that.

    Proof, once again, of the value of LinkedIn.