An Admitted Facebook Junkie Admits There's More to Social Media Than Meets the Eye

By Sarah Cocchimiglio
PROFIT Communications PR Assistant-Writer/Editor



(L to R-Debbie Israel, Leslie Feldman, Sarah Cocchmiglio, Jody Richwagen at the workshop.)

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a social media workshop given by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) in King of Prussia. An admitted Facebook junkie, I didn’t think there was much I could learn, because clearly I already knew it all. I was mistaken.

• For example, were you aware that YouTube is the Internet’s second largest search engine? (Google, it’s no surprise, is No. 1.)
  Speaking of which, have you ever Googled yourself? Do you know that the first 10 search results make up what’s known as your “Google Reputation?” Go ahead, look yourself up. I’ll wait. If you’re not happy with the results, the panelists explained, there are a few things you can do.


• Sign up for social networks (the Big Four are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN and YouTube) using your name as the username, such as facebook.com/johnsmith. If your name is already taken try adding your middle initial, or your favorite number.


• Create your own blog, and write about what you know. Think of a blog as a place to post short ‘newsletter-oriented’ content designed to educate, provide valuable resource information and / or just sound-off. Start out with one or two posts per week. And engage conversation – if you receive a comment, reply to the poster, and do it in a timely manner. Check out WordPress and Google Blogger.


• Visit Web sites and blogs, and publish comments using your name and a link to your Web site (if you have one)…in other words – practice! This is also a great way to generate exposure for your site, as well.


• Launch a campaign to monitor your Internet presence. Set up a Google Alert for your name or business, and you can receive a daily digest of instances where you, or your business, have been mentioned in cyberspace.
  
  Social media is no longer just about networking. The workshop taught me that social media sites are tools we can use to represent ourselves and our businesses, to broadcast our messages, engage our audience and listen to their feedback and expectations.