St Conti Communicator

Archive for November, 2007

On November 06, 2007, CustomScoop’s PR Blog Jots (http://www.prblogjots.com/) ran a piece called, “Repeat After Me, ‘You will be Googled…You will be Googled.’  Six Pixels of Separation.”  In it, they mentioned comments by blogger, Mitch Joel (http://www.twistimage.com/blog/): 

Mitch Joel writes about his participation in another survey about managing online identities. He notes a definite shift towards using the Internet to manage your personal brand rather than trying like hell to just keep your name and information off the web entirely. “Not only is this a shift in how we traditionally looked at the Web, but it poses a new opportunity for Marketers in a world where individuals are creating their own personal brands and have the ability to connect with communities and consumers in a way we have never seen before.”  

Yesterday, I received an email about a somewhat related story called, “Bank Intern Busted by Facebook,” (http://valleywag.com/tech/your-privacy-is-an-illusion/bank-intern-busted-by-facebook-321802.php). This one illustrates Joel’s point quite well in a different way.  A post in the discussion thread by a poster named, DEFENSEMAN, on November 12, underscores Joel’s comment.  I felt it was worth pointing out.  In part, he wrote: 

Something else I thought people might be interested in or heard about is the use of Facebook and Myspace during job applications. I cannot tell everyone enough how many people get turned down for jobs all over Los Angeles because after a great interview, we Google their name, and eventually trace Youtube, Myspace etc. and find all the drunken pictures, idiotic racist comments etc. 

Try Googling yourself to see what you find.  If you’ve never done it, you may be surprised.  If you haven’t done it in a while, you may be surprised.  Either way, it will likely drive home the messages presented on PR Blog Jots and by Mitch Joel and others.   

With social media, you have an excellent vehicle for managing your brand—information about you.  It is important to remember that, in everything you post to the Web, you keep in mind your overall image and its long-term impact.  Things posted to the Web can be there potentially forever.  So, live and work in such a way that you create the information that represents you at your best.  

DSJC.

Last month, I co-presented a talk on blogging and social media to the Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.  My part of the talk was on blogging.  My co-presenter, Michelle Ma of Orange Coast College, talked about social media, specifically Facebook as she uses it to promote the college.  “Interesting stuff, I thought.”  But, I wasn’t sure that having a Facebook page was necessary for me since I already have a web site—www.StContiCommunications.com—and started this blog.

Now, just a few weeks later, LOTS of people are telling me I need to get on Facebook.  Even Andrew Potvin, the Magic PR Man from my previous post, has a Facebook page.

Just yesterday, I had two people—a client and my brother—telling me to get with it.  OK, now, as recently as three years ago, my brother would have been the first to admit that he was technologically challenged; he didn’t even an email address. Now, he only uses a cell phone (no land line); he’s texting all the time; he sends me email jokes, and he’s a Facebook fan! 

So, Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/about.php) is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them.  According to their site, people use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.  So, having a Facebook page is like having a blog within a network of blogs?

One of my clients started a Facebook page called Allness, a community that celebrates God, by any name, in everything.  Its description reads, “Everything is part of the dance… if Spirit is for me, no-Thing can be against me…” 

It strikes me that being on Facebook is also similar to being a part of, say, a Yahoo! Groups list.  I’ve done that—been active in a Yahoo! group.  It was great to have a group of like-minded people communicating with me.  I guess now I can do it with photos, mpegs, etc, right?

I’d love some comments about how to make the most of Facebook.  For now, though, I’ve created a profile page and will check out Allness, plus others that friends and clients have recommended. 

E-I-E-I-O.