A mini social media manifesto (of sorts) for people in business

I saw an industry speaker post a message to his Twitter stream this morning saying that the slides from his talk at a conference are now available to download online. First thing I thought - why didn't he promote himself in advance more? I would have paid to watch him speak. 

A few weeks ago I was told that a journalist was asked to link to their articles more on their Twitter stream. The journalist said that they did not want to constantly be sending out links to their own stuff all the time, but the person inquiring said they would like to see much more nonetheless. 

It's a common theme I'm seeing more and more. That sharing is good, and people need to use social media personally in a smarter way to get more value out of their networks. The right people to see you speak, the right people reading your article, or simply someone knowing that you're into the same things as them.

Two years ago if you had said on Twitter that you had landed a speaking gig, written an article for a newspaper or bagged a new project at work, people would have berated you for bragging. That time has passed. Now social media is all about sharing.

We follow one another because we want to know what we're all doing. So I'm writing this post now as a request for people to share a bit more, and see how it benefits your social circle.

Write about what you do, what you're going to do and what you've just done. Some people feel funny doing this, either because of modesty or they just think 'why would I want to tell just anybody what I'm up to'. But when I read on someone's blog, Twitter or Foursquare that they are at an event, for example, I often wonder why they didn't say so earlier, as I would have gone too. Or if someone has written an article, make sure it is put up on your blog, your Twitter and whatever else you use that's sensible. You'll get the links, and we get to see it. In the days of information overload, why would you turn your nose up at an opt-in audience?

Golden rule - share lots.

For a small number of social sites (andIi'll add to this over time with more suggestions) I'm suggesting some new tips that I'm starting to do more myself:

Twitter

• Link your other web content to your feed. Use Friendfeed or Twitterfeed if you want to keep it simple. Then plug everything into that and use it as a funnel. Flickr photos, YouTube vids, Upcoming engagements, Delicious links, and so on. Don't boast, just share more. Steve Rubel is good at this
• Say when you're going to an event, or organising one. Mike Butcher is good at this
• Say when you've made an achievment - for me that would be landing a client, getting a project off the ground or hiring a new team member. Andrew Bloch is good at this

 Blogging

• Post shorter and more often. Set up your mobile so that you can send emails to blog that way. For a Blackberry, use the email function (this is what I do). For an iPhone, use an app.
• Write about events you're about to go to, you'll get feedback on opinion, the crown, and maybe set up some better meetings
• Embed, embed, embed. Take photos, video and links from your other social media content and re-use it in your posts
• Consider using Posterous. Some of the blogger bigwigs like Antony Mayfield and Steve Rubel are using it and saying it's ridiculously simple. Simple means easier, and that means more value
• Talk about what you do more! Don't just pen articles about your industry or whatnot. People like to know about you!

Foursquare

• Turn ON pings - make sure you are pinging Twitter with your check-ins. Since using it recently it has started a lot of conversations about interesting stuff. If you have pings off, nobody outside of Foursquare knows anything
• Turn ON email alerts, you can use this instead of push alerts from your phone
• Don't check in everywhere - people will unfriend you
• Add 'shouts' to your check-ins - these will appear like tweets or email updates to your network

Comments

[Ben Matthews]

Like the Foursquare tips, Drew!

I've turned off Twitter pings at the moment as I've been treating them as seperate services (despite them being social platforms).

Will be adding more shouts from niow on, whic as you say will make them come across more as tweets.

[twitter.com/jwarnette]

This was really useful. As Ben said, the Foursquare hints were the most handy, am still trying to figure it all out!

Cheers!