An article on Personal Branding Blog has a very helpful quiz to determine whether or not you're making the most of your social media, or just using social media as a word vomit of your pitches and products.
The Facebook questions seem to be a little bit biased toward companies. There are actually many really important actions you can take when using your personal Facebook account that help you to network and maintain relationships with colleagues, former classmates and more. A lot of them seem to slip through the cracks, so here are the ones I think are most important:
1. The birthday reminder is there for a reason. We've all done it, I know I have: we see a person's birthday reminder pop up on the right events column and immediately click through to pound out a "Happy birthday, you!" and consider it a job well done. While this is OK for people you have no desire to work with or maintain a relationship with, people with whom you've forged or hope to forge a connection, you have to do a bit more. I recommend actually sending a private message, telling them happy birthday. You can thank them for something nice they did for you, remind them of the fun time you had at a conference or meeting or ask after a personal item you had discussed previously. This shows that they're more to you than just a wall post, a public display of affection; you actually want a response to the message, you want to hear how they are.
2. Like their picture? Say it. I'm not saying zero in on the first bikini picture you see of a female coworker or say something that could be construed as inappropriate. If they took pictures at an event you attended or wished you could've attended, say something about them! Tell them how fun it looks, or ask if that speaker was as good as you heard. This starts a conversation and helps personalize your relationship.
3. You don't live online, so don't keep your relationship there. Since I was the "Facebook Girl" my first year of college, I know it well to be the person who friends everyone, comments on their walls and photos, and then can't recognize them in person. It's a huge embarrassment and, to be honest, can be looked at as desperate. Don't be like I was - do it right. If you know them online and talk with them online, you better be talking to them in person as well. Make sure your online and offline behaviors are complementary, not creepy.
So there you have it. They may seem like simple ideas, but they are often overlooked by students who want to network at 1 a.m. and have nothing better to do. If you follow rules like these, you'll be remembered as a thoughtful person, not just a social media addict.
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