In honor of social media day, I decided to write a quick post about what social media means to me. I was always on the Facebook bandwagon and have had an account since it premiered in 2004, but in the last year or so I’ve really gotten into social media – learning more about it and participating in more platforms.
I resisted Twitter for a long time and now I can’t imagine not being able to tweet. I have to thank Deirdre Breakenridge who was a speaker at our local FPRA chapter meeting and really got me thinking about Twitter. I decided to look into it and gave it a try. I have met so many interesting PR professionals through Twitter, made connections with people in my own community, made great friends (shout out to Niki Pocock!) and have learned so much from 140 character postings.
A lot of people who are not fans of social media argue that these types of platforms make it easy for people to disconnect with reality, staying away from connecting with people in the “real world.” But I must say, Twitter, LinkedIn, Brazen Careerist, Foursquare, Facebook – all of these sites have allowed me to connect with a much larger network than would have been possible without them. Even locally, I have met so many people through Twitter and then turned that into lunch meetings, face to face conversations, new business and new friendships. If anyone thinks social media is not powerful…think again!
Starting this blog also has been an amazing experience. I love being able to share my thoughts and ideas with a global audience and connect with other people through my posts. My blog and Twitter lead me to find Brazen Careerist a career focused social networking site that connects professionals and allows us to discuss countless topics. It’s amazing what you can discover and who you can meet through social media.
For me, social media has been a new education and a place for me to share information and insights with others. It has given me an online voice and has helped build my personal brand. I’m excited to see what new networks and ideas emerge in the coming months or year…I love that it’s so fast and transformative that you can’t keep up. Social media keeps you on your toes and for that I’m grateful.
So what does social media mean to you?
Ivette Faulkner 
Awwww … thanks for the shout out! I am so glad we’ve met through Twitter. A year ago, who’d have thought we’d be having lunch together on a regular basis and talking about your wedding while I pull up videos of my daughter to brag about – all mixed in with the essential dose of PR? 🙂
P.S. – I LOVE that you have come over to Word Press! Rock on!
Social media is such an incredible way to connect with people I never would have met otherwise. I have gained so much knowledge by connecting with others in my field. It is a learning experience every day.
Social media has its ups and downs (I still prefer receiving a phone call, it feels more personal), but I like that Facebook allows me to feel connected to people I otherwise might have lost touch with. Just knowing someone is a “Facebook message” away is comforting, and seeing old classmates comment on your status and support you in your new ventures–that’s touching.
As I embark on my freelance career and look for a job, I find social media platforms offer something else to me: a chance to market myself and meet others in my field!
Absolutely. Social media opens a lot of doors when it comes to finding new jobs and learning more about the professional industry you work in. Good luck with your job search!
I, too, feel it’s opened doors that I believe would not have had access to otherwise. I also believe, between Facebook and Twitter, I’ve been able to connect, reconnect or reach out to many people I would not have otherwise. These things have provided me confidence. As you stated, there’s such a fast pace to it all that it’s also really helped me prioritize my time – at work and at home. Because of the breadth of information, support, opinions and tips out there, it’s also forcing me to hone my professional focus and prioritize time spent on personal interests.
Once again a great post, Ivette. Your blog (thus, your experience) is an excellent example of a resource I would not have access to without social media. So thank you! 🙂
I’m so happy that I was able get you to think more about Twitter and you’re finding value and new friends! Thank you for the mention in your post 🙂