Community Corner
Keeping the Social in Social Media, Part Two
Local social media folks say there's no replacement for a face-to-face connection.
I first encountered Richard Callow and Chris Reimer on Twitter, shortly after moving to St. Louis in 2010. Both men provide engaging, often witty, Tweets; they share observations and information. In real life, I first met Callow, a communications consultant, and Reimer, vice president of social media at Falk Harrison, when we were all invited to a gathering of local “thought leaders,” by a major corporation. I thought it would be fitting to combine their e-interviews for this column.
How long have you been using social media? Which are your favorites for networking?
Richard: I have been using Linkedin for several years, Twitter for a couple of years, and Facebook for a couple of months. I advise a range of local corporate and political clients on communications matters, including the use of social media.
I am very much a Tweep.
Chris: I have been using social media for 3 years. Twitter is my favorite social media site. I use it 365 days a year, even Christmas Day. However, I do realize that my blog is my most important tool. (something that companies need to realize, as well!). I enjoy meeting people in person at Social Media Club of St. Louis events.
Can you share a story about a real person you met first via social media, a connection you made in real life that had a positive impact on your professional or social life?
Richard: I met Jack Dorsey, the young co-founder of Twitter. Listening to his stories about Twitter’s early days, I was reminded that world-changing ideas do not always arrive at your door in a suit. That thought now inspires a lot of the advice I give my clients regarding how they treat ideas.
Chris: I am really close with Julio Varela. I'm in St. Louis, he's in Boston. I was trying to figure out how to get my wife and I up to Boston to meet him in person and hang out. We've Skyped before, but never met in person. This past March, I was with my family in Orlando, and using my iPhone and the geolocation social media site Foursquare, I checked in to Animal Kingdom. Unbeknownst to me, Julio was working in Orlando. He saw my check-in, reached out, and we were able to meet that night for drinks. What are the chances? It was amazing. We've tried to support each other online as much as we can, but nothing replaced meeting him in person.
Can you describe your approach to connecting with people via social media on a daily basis; in other words, not so much posting articles or information but actually engaging others in some way. How much time do you spend on this?
Richard: I am not a social media expert. I am a publicist who uses Twitter and Facebook the same way I use my cell phone and email accounts. I might text or email a link or photo once in a while, but I won’t do it 20 times in a row. Same with Twitter and Facebook. I treat my social media accounts differently. Linkedin is a peep-hole into my contacts list, a partial roster of resources on which I would rely in a storm or a fight. Facebook is way to keep up with people I know who do things that have almost nothing to do with my current professional life. Twitter is the life I am actually living.
Chris: When using social media, I am just me. Whether I'm talking business or personal, social media strategy or the NBA, I am just me. I don't maintain separate business and personal Facebook accounts. I don't Tweet business stuff from one account and then personal stuff from another. I just live my life as me, both online and offline. Not only is this most effective, but it makes things so much easier. Some people will say, "Well, I can't Tweet about drinking beer on Saturday night. My employer might not like that." Two things: 1. In general, it's your decision. If someone important might not like a tweet, maybe you shouldn't make it. 2. If something as casual as a tweet about wine at dinner would piss off your employer, maybe you are in the wrong job. Everything in life is a two-way street - a choice. We have free will. I can work for you. You can fire me. We can be fair to each other, but we are not 100% free to do everything we want and say everything we want. So your inability to 100% "be you" online means either there are aspects to you that are publicly not palatable, or you're working at the wrong company, or some mixture of the two. Use your best judgement. And if you don't have good judgement, use social media as much as you possibly can and you'll give yourself a good chance of developing said judgement. I spend hours a day on social media
Are you a fan or "meet ups" (or Tweet Ups), gatherings organized via social media that bring your network acquaintances together? Any you can can recommend in our area?
Richard: I don’t go to a lot of tweet-ups, though I have enjoyed meeting everyone with whom I am connected by follow-ship, friendship, chat, or link. My professional interests generally involve influencing the responses of crowds (the people who are fans of a sport, who vote on Election Day, who serve on juries, who buy stock in companies), not individuals.
Chris: Yes, I am a huge fan of meetups. I go whenever I can. I like Social Media Club of St. Louis(@SMCSTL), River City Professionals (@RCPSTL), and I attended a Socialize St. Louis event that I rather enjoyed.
For someone who is hesitant about plunging into to networking via social media, what would be your advice for first steps? Any do's and don'ts?
Richard: Pick a social network. Join it. Lurk (which is geek for “shut up and listen”) for a week or two. Then, speak up in your own voice. Since you cannot be any smarter or dumber on social media than you are in a bar or at a cocktail party, just be yourself.
Chris: It's not a scary world. Just get started. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Don't sit on the sideline. As Gary Vaynerchuk says, don't draw lines in the sand, saying "I have no need for Facebook, and never will." Many people professed this years ago, and most of them have Facebook accounts now.
In your opinion, to what degree are social networks a vital part to getting ahead or established in a career today?
Richard: Depends on the career. It probably doesn’t help pathologists or morticians. Everybody else can benefit from better interaction with their clients, readers, constituents.
Chris: Social networks coupled with your offline networking = a personal brand. I do work in marketing/advertising/social media, so in this respect I am a bit biased, but I would not hire you if you didn't have a strong personal brand. So, I think it's critical. Today, instead of a resume, you can demonstrate writing capability by writing tweets and a blog. You can demonstrate your ability to get along with others by "working the room" on Twitter and Facebook, and by actually encountering live human beings (EEK!) at networking events. In my opinion, you need both online and offline working together to succeed in today's job market.
For more insights and information on social media
* In caase you missed part one,
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