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Does your Social Skillset end w/ Facebook?
When you really look at facebook, and all it can do – it reminds me in many ways of an online dating site back in the day, before I was married. Facebook has photo albums, chat capabilities, profiles, really it’s a glorified dating site. and I’m sure there’s plenty of cases where facebook has been the cause of hookups in one way or another.
True the viral sharing features of it and the news feed are what set it apart as something more, and the nature of social media adopters to be in it for networking with friends, colleagues, and more rather than just looking for a date, not to mention it’s exciting to connect with people we may have lost contact with over the years, even it is just to play Farmville with them.
Is our replacement of social media / social network activities replacing face to face interactions? (Answer it in the comments let’s create a dialogue on this subject)
This is more of a rhetorical question than one I think I can answer here. I think that we do have a danger of becoming too addicted to the internet and our online personas that we fail to live in the outside world.
Here are a few ways to bring back face to face interaction in our social media relationships.
1. Pick up the phone. I for one have phone anxiety and really have to push myself to call clients, even friends. I can give public speeches but give me a phone and I freeze. The more I do it from day to day though the less frightening it is. So if it’s leads you’re following up on, or new clients you’re working with – give them a phone call it will definitely increase your overall impression in their eyes.
2. Attend workshops, seminars, networking events. Social media is about online media that gets shared with friends, and associates, however at it’s deepest core social media is about the relationships. Attending workshops, seminars, and even small gatherings to talk about social media is a great way to meet new people to build relationships with, and network with. It’s also a good way to establish yourself in your field, not to mention you might just learn a thing or two that could end up making you some money in the future.
3. Charity never suffereth, and is kind... Serving others is not only a good thing to do to build karma or brownie points with God, but it’s proven that helping people increases certain hormones that make us feel good. In the stressful times that we live, who doesn’t need a reason to feel good about themselves?
4. Stop, Smell the Roses, and Leave the Internet. Sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up in twitter, facebook, and blogging that we sometimes neglect the people that are important to us. Take a break, and go on a walk with someone you love. Single? Go for a walk in a park with a puppy, you’re certain to have fun, and might meet someone in the process. Moral: Get out of the house, leave the computer and iphone, and just breathe in some fresh air. Einstein often put in hours at the office, he was a work-a-holic but he knew that when a solution wouldn’t arise the best medicine was a night at the movies. Clearing your mind every once in awhile is a great way to get past mental blocks, or writers block.
5. Add a little video magic. Use skype and other video conferencing resources when communicating with clients. These tools create an environment of trust when you can see each other. It feels as if you’re both in the same room even if you’re on other sides of the country. It’s also a good professional way to show that you’re serious about your business.
What are some ways you keep yourself in check and don’t get too wrapped up being online?
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