Raising social awareness

This post is in light of what happened in Sydney, to 18 year old Nona Belomesoff, who was lured by a teen who claimed he loved animals on Facebook and claimed he had been working for Discovery Channel. He lured Nona to a site for potential training for a future job and her body was found yesterday.

The internet is always going to be used by predators and by people who can access all sorts of information. While I am a firm believer in and of social media, marketing and networking and finding potential jobs on the Internet, I do believe in keeping certain details private.

In a sense, I believe in building a brand and a profile of yourself that does not have to contain information such as the year you were born, who you are in a relationship with and your physical home address and school you currently attend. Unless there is a reason why you as a business and a brand are using these details. My Facebook is private and I am very aware that my blog is public and open to public scrutiny and that my Twitter updates are seen by everyone.

In terms of networking, finding jobs and building a business brand, social media is and has proved a very positive experience for me and other small business owners. However, I am aware that each Twitter update is just a glimpse into my life and each blog post does not contain any information which might cause difficulties for me at a later stage.

Pictures, well people can access pictures on Twitter and public blogs, I selected a generic picture of myself. Facebook does give the option to set up all your personal information and details to friends only; look at your friends carefully and only select friends who you know, have had contact with (a lot of mine are diabetes bloggers and authors) or are genuinely friends of yours.

Men (often, really often) ask to be added as your friend on all social media sites because they can access your and your friends pictures and all your details. Don't add them, block them instead.

Nona's parents and police have advised teens to remove people thay don't know and to remove intricate details off their sites and inappropriate pictures of themselves. Change your settings on all social media sites and pretend that all your public profiles are for a potential job interview. When people find you on the Internet, who do they see, what do they read about you and do they believe in you initially, virtually?

Let employers see you at your best and get a general overview of who you are. If they want to know more about you and general details if they are going to be offering you a job; let them ask you in an interview setting. An appropriate interview setting in daylight, in an office meeting.

While I do agree that blogs are seen as a personal journal and people choose their own subject matter; some people are very aware that their journals are online and in the public eye and they are very aware of what they put up on their journals. If yours is inapproppriate, has inappropriate details such as names, pictures, too much information and is becoming more of an extremely personal diary; take it down, in other words, delete it.

I am fully aware that I have been posting, be open and be aware of wonder. I have never outright lied on any of my posts, updates or information I give out. I am very aware that sites which are public and accessible to all need to be maintained. Not everyone wants to hear your ultra personal far too much unasked for information. Keep that information to friends who you know outsides of sites and people you trust.

In terms of building a business and a profile I am teaching my clients about being a brand without telling people every single fascinating and sometimes boring detail about yourself. I am chatty, informal, a bookworm, I am building a business, learning and asking questions and discovering life and learning all sorts of things I want to share; I teach clients the same, what information are you happy to give out to the public and which information is reserved for your consumers and clients on a need to know basis?

Being aware and being open is about being open to chances, to new experiences, to a potential job; I do not advocate being open in any way that you can put your life in danger. In some ways I am extremely aware of how open and easily accessible the Internet is to predators. That there are sick people out there who see social media, see networking and marketing on the Internet as a way to lure people and fulfill their own fantasies.

However there are thousands, millions of people who are who they are. Who are aware and are using social media sites to connect, to learn, to discover, to build brands, to market, to find like minded people and use social media sites as another way to help them attract consumers and clients.

These people do not mind if you ask them to send them details reagarding training, or who else is going, or if you can contact someone to discuss the training further. They send emails with their business cards, letters with their letter heads, these are people you can learn to trust. And these are people who don't mind if you need to know more details and more information about a job, or coming for training somewhere.

R.I.P. Nona Belomesoff.

Market, market, market your business ...

Google Maps is an excellent way to market and promote a business, you can send all sorts of information to your customers and clients.

I have used my listing to promote my services, added opening hours, which areas I serve (Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and the City) and included my contact number, website and blog.

When you sign up and make an initial listing, Google sends a postcard to you with a number to verify your listing and once you have decided how to market and promote your listing online and add payment details, opening hours, contact information and other relevant details for your company; clients and consumers can find your business on Google Maps.

It's a free listing which can be seen world wide and it opens up other alternatives; which other sites can you use to list your business for free and drive more clients to your website, business or blog?

I am going to be spending the next few days finding the best business directories and alternatives to list my business. It's another way to keep your business active and build up a brand for your company or business.

Make sure that all the information you submit online compliments each other and helps drive clients to your website, business or blog. Check carefully that your important details such as your contact number and email address can click directly to your email address and site. The more interactive your listings are the better because people who are generally time poor do not want to waste their time trying to find a way to contact you.

Any way you can market and promote your business will help clients and consumers find you and contact you. Keep on marketing, listing, adding to directories and promoting your business but try not to overwhelm people with unnecessary information.

Find ways to make yourself seen online; have a few business cards handy when you make contact with someone who might be interested in either using your services or recommending your services to someone else.

Market both online and socially by talking about your business and the services you offer to people who are curious about or interested in what kind of work you do. Like real estate agents with their location, location, location spiel, we as social media people can learn to love the words, market, connect, publicise, promote and communicate.

Now say that last line three times.

Being aware ...

Social Media is brilliant for raising awareness. Of your business and your business profile. Of events and industry events in the city.

Of coffee meetups where you can meet people who love working in the same industry as you do. And who can recommend a great graphic designer, or painter or shop fitter or blogger and talk about their own experiences.

Social Media makes you aware of how quickly this has become part of our lives. It's been maybe 3 years that social media has become so huge on the Internet and most people view Facebook regularly, Tweet at least once a day and check out social media sites for all sorts of information, facts and insight.

I learn about events in Sydney, get social media advice, read blog posts, connect to writers, read the latest book reviews and get so much information the second I switch on my laptop in the mornings. I follow people I love hearing about and I look up to people who are genuine and seem to be constantly on the go.

Social Media also helps build community awareness, you can find charity events and foundations to support. It's a business tool especially LinkedIn which is used by proffessionals who have connections with other proffessionals and used LinkedIn to keep up with their own industry and employ people who they feel have the know how and experience.

If anyone asks if social media is a good business tool, my answer is a rather loud and excited, yes. I learn everyday, I am in touch with the book industry and the social media industry. I know which coffee meetings would benefit me and I am building up my knowledge of networking events to attend.

It builds and raises industry awareness. And it is far from a time waster, everything I am curious about and learn about on social media sites; I put it into practice in my own business and follow, connect with and find people who have similar interests and experience.

It is a tool. It will help in a job interview. It will help with your business. It can be free marketing if used authentically. It can raise awareness.

Social media is all about what you can learn and gain by having the knowledge and ability to find out what works for you, what benefits your business and how you can use social media sites wisely and effectively.