The market that we
sell has changed dramatically in the last couple of years due to change in
technology as well as better methods of reaching out to people. You can use
social networks to improve your chances of success if used right. You will be
surprised at how many people I run into who don’t have any social networks at
all. I understand that they can be very addictive and you might waste a lot of
time; however, that comes down to self discipline, really. If you are not self
disciplined one way or the other you will waste valuable time. Having a
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc is always good to have as you might one day
decide to have a carrier change. While it is true that you will never talk to
most of these people, you never know whose going to became who. That being said
it doesn't mean that because you happen to have the CEO of McDonald's in your
Facebook, you are guaranteed the job; however, it does give you a better chance
than someone else with similar experiences as you. That improves your chances
of success and to me improvement is worth more than Gold.
One day should you
decide to open up your own business you will have 3,000 people to reach out to
in the click of a mouse. I have had people that I didn't speak to for five
years on Facebook and they bought products for me because of simple Facebook
status update.
You can sell and buy
simple stuff through your connections. Even if no one in your list isn't buying
or selling they might have a friend. This happens way more often than you can
imagine. During summer time there was a concert that got sold out first day.
Unfortunately, I didn't buy my ticket on time! People were selling tickets at
$400 plus. I decided not to go but last minute I bought for $60 because I
updated my Facebook status. My "FRIEND" couldn't make it because he
had an emergency at work.
I know I have been
focusing on Facebook mostly but they all do about the same thing. There are so
many different groups that you can join and reach out to people with all kinds
of different interests.
If you twitter a
company they will respond back to you in less than 5 minutes. I once had a bad
experience at TD Bank and my matter wasn't taken seriously. I kept on getting
passed around to different people. The second I twittered the bank, in less
than 5 minutes the matter was taken care of. They take it very seriously
because it’s for the public to see. I even got a personal letter from the
regional Vice President explaining the situation.
Although I am very
satisfied with my job for the time being, I will often receive job offers on LinkedIn
from different companies. Even if I am not interested, I will refer them my friends.
Thus far two of my friends have been hired by good companies. This has added
value to my social circle and maybe one day the favor will be returned. (Those
were not the intentions. I truly care about my friends)
All these being said,
it can go the other way around too, if you are not careful on what you decide
to share with the public. It truly does create an image of who you are as a
person and it can bring down your values. Don't share unprofessional photos or
have socially unacceptable statuses. I never understood that. All you're doing
is creating a negative image of yourself and nothing good can ever come of
it.
It is little things
like this in life that will put you ahead of millions of people. A small
improvement here and there will improve your chances of success and get you
that much closer to achieving your wildest dreams.
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