Social Media's Slippery Slope
The new issue of 1to1 Magazine features a story by Jeremy Nedelka about how companies can learn more about their prospects and customers by checking out social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. I think these sites are great for networking and connecting with friends, but there is a line that needs to be drawn between personal and professional information. What's the etiquette?
Some people are very open about their lives and post lots of juicy details, pictures, and updates about what's happening. But some information meant for friends and family may wind up available to business contacts as well. As a business contact who sees something personal, should you act on it?
I try not to mix personal and professional life, but with search engine optimization, Facebook apps and new LinkedIn tools, it's getting more difficult. I heard that Facebook has a new feature that allows you to segment different types of friends, so you can control who sees what. But like the rest of the new Facebook site, it's hard to find and confusing.
If someone's profile changes from married to divorced, or if they change a status update to alert friends of a family crisis, it's tough to know if as a business connection you should mention it. I guess it depends on how well you know the person, or if it's something that might be relevant to the business relationship. It's a fine line, but as Jeremy's 1to1 Magazine article shows, knowing a little more about a prospect or customer can help deepen the relationship...if done correctly.
Have you had any good or bad experiences with social media information? Does anyone have some good recommendations?
Related Entries
- Starting Out in Social Media
- Forrester's Moira Dorsey: The Future of Online Customer Experience
- Guest Blogger Martin Hayward: Supporting Social Media Engagement on Your Website
blogs, social networks, videos and other web 2.0 technology make it possible to share just about anything we'd like to share about ourselves. And Google doesn't care whether what we put out there is meant for our friends, family, customers or anybody we may deal with in our lives. Just because the technology allows us to do this, doesn't mean you need to put every thought you have out there for all to see - especially if those thoughts may find their way to folks you didn't really intend them for.
I'm all for openness and transparency, but there are still some things you may want to keep to yourself.
Interesting and I think we are finally starting to see the cross pollination of professional and personal connections through Social Networks. People are opening up their lives through these interactions but lack of discretion can lead to uncomfortable situations. Managing all of the connections can prove counter productive so clear lines of intent are needed to place those connections in their proper place and know when to cross over.
Tools like Twitter can also cloud one's intent when both personal and professional connections are made.
Yammer, another Twitter like tool is a tool that allows internal "What are you working on now" type communications internal intent and procedures.
My concern is that it can become counter productive trying to keep up with all of the disparate connections, many who crossover.
I think time will tell when proper usage creates positive and repeatable results.
Until then the key takeaway is discretion...intent and results.