Most business schools host an etiquette dinner to teach students about mannerism and conduct.  You learn things like using your utensils “outside in” and shaking with your right hand while making eye contact (and catching an à la suave glance at their name tag).  Most students avoid this event under the impression that etiquette should be common sense, and I’m guilty of making such a false assumption.  Eventually, I attended an etiquette dinner at a networking event and learned a thing or two, realizing and deeply regretting the simple mistakes that could have been avoided.  Now, I stand strong behind my embarrassing and educational experience.  You gotta learn somehow, right?

The virtual world is a bit different.  You don’t have to face people in person, nor do you have to worry about body language.  But etiquette is a universal language that stretches into our online interactions.  With the rise of social networks, you have to be extra cognizant of your connections and how you converse with them.  To avoid looking like a fool, learn etiquette and let it take your online presence to a higher level.

Twitter Responses

If you’ve read my initial posts on Twitter in January and September of 2009, you know where I stand with this topic.

When it comes to responding to people on Twitter, there are three key things:

• Send a direct message to thank the people who follow you.  This helps make a straight connection with your audience.  This shouldn’t be too troublesome if you have a few hundred followers, but if you have significant following (1000+ followers), you can opt for an automatic DM using tools like Socialoomph.
• Recognize and appreciate those who retweet (RT) or feature you on follow friday (#FF).  I do admit that you can’t thank every single person here, but use your judgment as needed.
• If someone tweets you publicly (using @YourTwitterHandleHere), try your best to respond.  For big wigs with 10,000+ followers, I can understand not responding to each and every retweet, but for the rest of us, we can and should carve 10 seconds of our day to connect to a follower.

The cardinal rule of influence is:  To be a great leader, one must also know how to follow.

Facebook Stalking

You’re a big fat liar if you publicly declare that you don’t stalk people on Facebook.  But this doesn’t mean you’re entitled to befriend everyone and their mom either.  Facebook is meant for people to connect, keep in touch and/or get to know each other (upon acceptance of virtual friendship).

Another thing about Facebook – it is a social networking site, which means people are there to socialize. If I can’t write on your wall and interact, why add me at all?  If I can’t compliment how fabulous you look in your picture, why are we even friends?

Privacy settings are there to protect you from creepers, not so you can set up a fake connection with someone.  I can understand hiding pictures from your crazy bachelorette party, but connecting for the sake of connecting defeats the purpose of Facebook, IMHO.

I’m not campaigning that everyone should become BFF’s on Facebook, but let’s get a little personal here.  If you want to network, kindly connect on LinkedIn.  I won’t take it personally.

Connecting on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the underdog Facebook wished never existed.  Facebook is where you can brag about the awesome concert you attended or share news of your new baby with family, friends, and colleagues you know and have met.  Not to say my rationale is the right way – there are people who can successfully manage both their personal and professional networks on Facebook.  I’m just not one of them.

LinkedIn is where you keep professional contacts updated with your professional life.  It helps you re-connect with old and new colleagues to share expertise, collaborate, or seek help when finding a new job.  Not to mention, it’s a living document of your resume integrated with endorsements from the people you have worked with.  Say goodbye to the days of searching for an old resume and relying on your memory to update it.

If you don’t have an account, start one today.  Never underestimate the power of LinkedIn.

Blog Post Interactions

Your readers are your bread and butter.  Whether or not you monetize your blog, you are publishing content so that someone will read them, right?  If this isn’t the case, remind me to send you a Moleskine.

When people comment on your blog posts, respond to them.  Interact with your audience.  Welcome constructive feedback because they will likely improve your content.  Take everything with a grain of salt and give people the benefit of doubt.

Be Inclusive.

If you’re a social media superstar, likely someone else is too.  This is the internet we are talking about, the land of free content (for now) with an infinite amount of colleagues you don’t have visibility into.  Share the love and avoid looking like you have a stick up your ass.  We’re not in high school and social media isn’t an exclusive club.  Cut the arrogance.  Just because people can’t see your body and facial expression doesn’t mean you are immortal and sheltered from backlash later (haven’t you people learned anything from Jersey Shore?).  Pretentious attitude slices your opportunity thicker (and deeper) than burning bridges.  Get off the high horse.  Share content.  Be a team player.  Make connections. That’s what social media is all about.

Thanks to @HughL for being my soundboard and support.  If this post keeps you in doubt, here’s some entertainment from last week’s Jersey Shore.  Don’t be an Angelina :)

Practicing my D90 skills at Pike Place Market, Seattle

Bored?  Hard to imagine that there are still people who are hungry for content in this day and age, but I know better than to underestimate the power and potential of Internet users.

Well, here’s some more food (content) for your thoughts (and entertainment).  You never know when you need extra entertainment for your daily commute.  I’ve been following a podcast and blog for the past few weeks, and it’s been a hit and miss process to find one the suits my lifestyle.  I need content that is current, stimulating, and candid.  Did I mention brief?  Yes, I need snack sized content that I can consume on the go.

So off to the summary and review of my latest pots of gold…

The Rachel Maddow Show Podcast

I admit, I fly with my left wing wide open, but I can blame it on my being left handed.  Or, really there’s nothing to blame for my latest obsession:  The Rachel Maddow Show Podcast.

Juggling school and work, I don’t have the time to keep up with my favorite TV shows.  Sometimes I feel that Comcast is getting monthly donations out of me because I barely catch up on recordings on my DVR.  As more popular shows are being offered as a video podcast, one I will come to accept that paying for content is ludacris and that I should just watch my shows on my laptop.

Summary + Review

Think late night show host meets hardball.  She covers politics and breaking news like any other news reporter, but what sets her apart is the ability to converge current events with intellectual wit that transforms into refreshing content.  I’ve been enjoying her podcast because she is spunky and not afraid to point out the elephant in the room when it comes to political issues, while creating an informal vibe by including social innuendos.   The only caveat I would point out is a 45 minute podcast is a bit long for me.  I know that it is a video podcast version of her TV show, therefore the content is still the same, but perhaps her producers should consider shorter versions for podcast subscribers.

MetzMash: A Blog by Adam Metz

What a surprise.  A social media blogger finds yet another social blog she can feed to.  It took me a while to find a blog I could follow on a consistent basis, because there is a whole another critical mass world of bloggers, with most of them being time sucking and entertaining (ie. www.fmylife.com).  After many attempts, I finally found a blog with substance.

Some things just happen by chance, because I didn’t find this blog by browsing on the Internet.  I went to a guest lecture event led by social media strategist, Adam Metz, where I became even more fascinated with the concept of social media.  After more research on his background and case studies, I onboarded onto the world of Metz.

Summary + Review

Keep it simple, kids.  There’s no reason to make things complicated in a world that is full of complexity.  Adam’s blog focuses on latest social media events, topics, and products in a meaningful and compelling way.  His thoughts are discerning, and they challenge you to think about social media through many different lenses.  I would say my favorite feature about his blog is the bullet actions for organizing reasons and suggestions for the topic at hand.  Sometimes, it’s reviving to read a list of thoughts rather than reading an unnecessary long post.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!