Think Through Your Social Commitments
So, why are you social?
It’s a good question, and one many of us don’t really think through before we delve into blogs, wikis, social sites and the like.
A interesting article over at The National Law Journal ponders the concept for lawyers, suggesting that they should consider why they’re opening a social networking profile before doing so. Do they want to get information for future cases, leads on clients or network with other attorneys?
A sensible route might be to have one account for business associations, say on LinkedIn, and another for personal friends, perhaps on Facebook. And if the worlds should collide? Politely explain that you like to keep things separate, says author Gina F. Rubel.
Naturally, there are networking instances where folks know that they’re purely there to have fun, such as Skittles.com’s new foray into the social scene. Unless you take your candy very seriously, of course. (And honestly, who doesn’t?)
I’m sure Ryan Coonerty, a Santa Cruz, CA councilman was thinking with more businesslike goals when he first ventured onto sites like Wikipedia. But those efforts haven’t turned out how he hoped, reports the San Jose Mercury News. Opponents have modified his Wiki entry several times, to make the record reflect what they say is a clearer view of Coonerty’s activities. And as for his Facebook and MySpace pages, which he hoped would be a way to connect to the community? Only two questions from voters in five years have been received through those outlets.
How do you decide who to friend, and who not to friend? Do you keep your Facebook presence separate from your professional life? And what do you do if a client or work acquaintance you wouldn’t really consider a “friend” in real life asks to be your social networking buddy?
Makes the whole idea of personal boundaries take on new meaning, doesn’t it?
