How I use Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Lately, more and more people have been asking me how to effectively use the 'Big 3' (sorry MySpace) Social Networking platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. I thought about it a bit today and here's how I would characterize my current usage with approximate % daily social networking allocation:

Facebook: 'Rekindling and repurposing the past'. This was where it all started for me (sorry again MySpace), but I now consider myself a 'graduate' of sorts. Primarily used with close friends, family and colleagues I interface (currently) or have interfaced with in the physical world (ie. high school, college, early career). Primary value is for passively 'keeping in touch' with people I care about. Love the photos. Informal and more random status updates. 20%

Twitter: 'Present day-by-day social stimulus for personal and professional betterment'. Twitter is my primary 'Social' tool where I am actively looking for key inputs to drive my lifestyle design while reciprocating the same with friends and followers. I tend to talk about things on Twitter that are near and dear to me and/ or where I have some expertise in. Thoughtful and regular status updates, random conversations and serendipity are the rules here. Key is to be active and to keep things real and fresh whenever possible. It also pays to use careful 'Twitterquette' at all times. 70%

LinkedIn: 'All about future interactions with people and parts unknown'. This is the shiny, more formal looking profile that stays consistent and concrete--a buoy and beacon for perpetual professional good-standing and financial prosperity. I try to keep my profile as concrete as possible, highlighting my passions, expertise and career visions of tomorrow. In areas where my network is not strong enough, I can effectively make key new acquaintances with this tool. Usually only status update when I travel in hopes of meeting up with contacts. 10% (however, this would shoot up significantly if I found myself unemployed)

So past, present and future aspects of my life are well served by these three bastions of digital social connectedness.

Overall, my goal is to spend approximately 80% of available social networking time affecting the most important 20% aspects of my current and/ or desired lifestyle. Yes, Pareto's Law applied to Social Networking. 

So far, this system seems to work, however, often I feel I'm still just scratching the surface of what's possible.

Oh, and I truly do cherish face-to-face interaction with people and don't see my time online increasing more than it stands today.  Like everything else in life, in my opinion, a proper balance between virtual and real life experiences is the best approach.  

Best wishes for finding your social networking happy place.

Comments

[MF Chapman]

1.

Nice summary...I am still gauging how to use them all. Facebook groups for work, twitter for work and expanding the network of interesting parts of life, Linkedin on those professional connections. You summed it up well and pretty much hit the mark.

[c. enrique ortiz]

2.

cool summary. would be cool to have included "blogging" as well (as it differs from the rest).

ceo

P.S. Just discovered your blog, and your twitter, which I'm now following. Cheers.