Seven Social Networking Naysayers

Lately, I've seen a lot of articles and heard a lot of negative comments about social networking. There are new 'studies' that say it is pointless babble and narcissistic. There are people telling me it's a waste of time and voyeurism. Here are my top seven comments I've heard and my take on each.

Twitter conversations are pointless babble.
I argue that many face-to-face conversations are also babble, but not pointless. It's called small-talk and has an important function. I often think of Twitter as the company water cooler where people talk about weather, sports, pop culture, family, food, TV, music and so on. These conversations build friendship and trust. Friendship is the most important trigger to yes and has the greatest impact on people. Trust is "the key leadership competency of the new global economy"

Most Twitter conversations are narcissistic.
Most Twitter and Facebook activity is not even recorded. Most social networking activity is listening. People read 10s and 100s times more tweets, blog posts, and status updates than they post. Narcissistic posts are very valuable to online conversations. Narcissistic posts get the conversation started. Posts about me are more about the listener and trying to make a connection.

Social networking can get you in trouble.
This is so true. Please, before you start using Facebook or other social sites for your personal brand or business, get rid of all your objectionable material. Google your name and clean it up. However, the fact that some people post inappropriate stuff, does not mean you should abandon it altogether! Set goals, make a statement, get connected. Nobody is perfect. Don't let fear prevent you from making real connections online. Don't be afraid to experiment, test new technologies and approaches, and even make a few mistakes.

Social networking is voyeurism.
This is one of my favorite comments that I heard first-hand from a C-level executive. No, voyeurism is showing to the world that which should remain private. Social networking is showing the world the best side of you. Social networking is like going to traditional networking events. One puts on one's best clothes, loads up on business cards, and strikes up conversations with people about weather, sports, family, TV, and hopefully a little business. It's know different from business advertising. Businesses don't publish minutes from the Board meeting, but publish ads that communicate what they want the world to know about them.

Social networking is a huge waste of time.
It can be if you are not disciplined. It is no different, however, from going out on the weekend, attending traditional networking events & seminars, and other face-to-face conversations. One must choose the number of these events one attends based on the ROI one wants to achieve. We've all gone to events and meetings that we return from thinking, "Those were two hours of my life that I'll never get back." What one wants to get out of it determines how much time one should invest.

Face-to-face networking still trumps social networking
Social verses traditional networking is not and either-or proposition! A good sales person does not neglect to follow up a traditional networking event with emails, phone calls, and direct mailings! Social networking does not supplant in-person networking; it supplements it. It is a communications tool that gives you more 'touches' between face-to-face meetings. And I argue that SM touches are more effective than email because they are opt-in strategies.

Companies will not hire you.
I read this naysayer in a 'business intelligence' brief that I receive in my inbox. Prospective employers are looking for reasons to rule out candidates and your online presence provides them the needed material. That is exactly why you should take control of your online presence. You need to be in control of the online conversation about you. You need to provide prospective employers with ample reason to hire you. Use the web to your advantage and develop a portfolio of work. Use it to connect with people you may not have met otherwise. Who knows, you may even find you next job via social networks.