Sanity and Social Networking

Here in the online world, social networks are all the rage. In English, that means everyone who's anyone is telling you how sites like LinkedIn, MySpace and Facebook are the next big things that are going to change the way we communicate, live, work, find jobs, learn things, and attain enlightenment. Of course, there are those of us contrarians who think they're handy things to use but don't see them getting lots of people excited who aren't (a) programmers, (b) venture capitalists or (c) people who run social networking sites.

Cube Rules' Scot Herrick was speaking at a writers' conference about technology for writers when he was asked how many of these sites someone should sign up for and use for their work?

(Precisely, I thought when I read Scot's post about it. With everyone and their brother launching social networking sites of one kind or another, how are people supposed to figure out which ones to join, keep track of them all, and still get their work done?)

Scot's answer:

We face the same question as Cubicle Warriors, don’t we? Should I have a blog, join LinkedIn, go nuts on Facebook — or forget the whole thing?

I don’t think you can forget the whole thing; that would hurt your career management networking. But, there are some criteria you can use to decide how you spend your time. Here’s mine:

1. The audience is everything. You should spend time on the social sites that drive sales to your target market. If tween-something is your thing, then MySpace is your place. For Cubicle Warriors, it more often is career management blogs and places like LinkedIn and (my personal favorite, because it is a career management tool) Jibber Jobber.
   
   
2. Your time is everything. You can only spend so much time focusing on your network. Make sure you are spending your time where it is easiest and gives you the most bang for your buck. What’s the easiest way to stay in contact with your work associates, past work associates and friends? That’s where you go.
   
   
3. Know your criteria for accepting social connections with “friends.” And feel comfortable with the criteria.

My criteria for accepting connections are simple: I know you, have interacted with you, and believe that you “get it” in my definition of competence. If you do, you’re in. If you don’t, you won’t. Simple.

Perfect.

Joining Social Sites — The Criteria [Cube Rules]