Linking the Planet with Healthy Connections
by Martin Brossman
ow we stay in touch with friends, family and associates has under- gone a virtual revolution. It’s a computer centered phenomenon that has even generated new terminology to de- scribe it. One important new term in the online dictionary is Social Networking, which describes the connection of indi- viduals sharing information, photos and videos to maintain, enhance and increase personal and business relationships. Busy working women, retired seniors,
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and stay-at-home Moms are enthusiasti- cally using Social Networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter to stay in frequent touch with friends and family, appreciating the quick messaging process as a great way to fill-in communication between phone calls and in-person visits. Business professionals have discovered that global sites such as Linkedin, and local area sites like Inside919 and Link- ingRaleighNC, are time-saving tools for making new business connections and establishing a respected reputation in one’s field.
the sites to see
Let’s look at some of the most popu-
lar Social Networking Sites (SNS) with an overview of what is important for you to know:
www.facebook.com
Facebook is a free online network with more than 400 million users world- wide. Users add friends, send messages, and can display a personal profile for announcing news about themselves. Al- though it began as a communications sys- tem among Ivy League college students, there are now about 18 million users over 45 and it is open to everyone over the age of 13. The fastest-growing segment is women over 55. Facebook offers privacy settings which allow you to control the visibility of your posts, enabling only des-
36 NA Triangle
www.natriangle.com
ignated individuals to have access to your information and messages.
n Consider Facebook a vehicle for staying connected with people you value in your life. As an adult, you are free to”create your own family.” This may or may not include biological family members. n Facebook personal profiles may not be used to promote your business. There are separate Pages for businesses which may be created free of charge. Targeted paid advertising to specific Facebook demo- graphics is also available.
www.twitter.com
Twitter is a free microblog service
that invites users to send and receive short messages known as Tweets. Tweets may be no longer than 140 characters, and are sent to followers via a message box where the heading says “What’s happening?” It is a very effective tool for communicat- ing changing information that others can follow or not, so there is no experience of being “spammed.” It is possible to send direct messages that are visible only to the intended recipient.
n Not all followers who show up in your public Twitter network are desirable. Be alert for unusual followers and use the Block or Report as Spam options when necessary. n Twitter is now employed at large confer- ences to enable non-attendees to submit input in real time. It is often displayed on a screen for the audience of participants to see. Twitter is also being used in creative ways by small businesses to stay in touch with their customers by sending daily spe- cials, menu features or discounts.
www.Linkedin.com
Linkedin is a business-oriented SNS with more than 65 million registered us- ers. It offers free and paid options. It is especially valuable for professionals to
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