Gus Wagner of The Rocket Group speaks to Jeff City Start in Jefferson City, Missouri on the controversial topic of social media and profile scrubbing.
On July 11, 2012 I gave a presentation to Jeff City START about using the Internet to begin and enhance their professional lives.
In case you aren’t familiar with it, Jeff City Start is the one stop shop for interns and internships in our hometown of Jefferson City, Missouri, so it’s where college, graduate and law students connect with Jeff City employers.
My presentation to Jeff City Start was focused on “Social Media: With an Eye Towards Your Future”. In other words, how can social media help professionals who are trying to launch (or sustain) their careers?
You’ll see the slides from that presentation, above, and you can find parts of the video on our YouTube Channel.
Here are a few of the key takeaways from my presentation to Jeff City Start:
Tools
There are lots of social tools out there for professionals, not limited to email, social media, and search (and search engine optimization).
Own Your Name (& All Variations of It)
- Secure your name online by setting up a website and a blog that use your name.
- Purchase all of the dot com variations you can find that use your name (examples: GusWagner.com, GusWagner.net, etc.).
- Write a blog in your area of expertise and keep it fresh.
- Set up Google Alerts to let you know when your name has been mentioned online.
Check out this video about owning your name when making your annual Christmas wish list as well!
- Use your domain for our email address (example: Gus@GusWagner.com). @aol, @hotmail, and even @gmail email addresses don’t get to the top.
- Use your snazzy new email address to contact industry leaders (and/or prospective mentors) and ask them probing questions. Develop those relationships.
- Include your URL and your #SoMe links in your email signature.
- Consider an email newsletter, especially if you’re producing good content on your new blog.
Use Social Media
(These 7 major benefits of social media are credited to @JasonFalls)
n1. Enhance branding and awareness
2. Protect brand reputation
3. Enhance public relations
4. Build community
5. Enhance customer service
6. Facilitate research & development
7. Drive leads and sales
What is Social Media?
- It’s a consumer-driven marketplace.
- It’s everywhere.
- It’s a place of truth & transparency
Why LinkedIn?
- There are 69+ million US LinkedIn accounts
- LinkedIn is used by 85 of the Fortune 100 for hiring
- Every second, 2 new members join
- In #MidMo, there are 78,225 LinkedIn members
- In #Missouri, there are more than 2 million members
How to Use LinkedIn
- Join groups
- Get to know connections of connections
- Search for jobs
- Ask questions
How to Use Twitter
- Segment important people in your industry
- Follow them to learn and engage with them
- Gain an insight into trends
- Gain touch points into your industry
- Find your own professional voice
- Meet pros and other people who you may not have the chance to interact with in real life
- Join Twitter chats
- Search for opportunities
Facebook is another great tool for professionals. Check out this post I wrote, called, “How Not to Get Hired: Facebook Scrubbing”.
Interested in having me speak at your event? Drop me a line!
Thanks for the time,
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Gus Wagner has spent the last 10 years launching success stories for The Rocket Group. He is a four-time certified social media strategist (one of the few in mid-Missouri), and he has more than 26 years of total political, charitable, and civic volunteerism under his belt. Gus is an invaluable social media consultant and public speaker in Missouri and the Midwest.
