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On Justifying Social-Networking (Or Why I Might Abandon Social Media)

By Carlee Mallard, on May 11th, 2010

Would I keep using social media and networking sites if I weren’t ever looking for a new job or clients? Already certain industries are more prominent on LinkedIn and Twitter (marketing, public relations, news sources, internet startups, consultants, freelancers, etc.) and more jobseekers than steady-job-havers keep active social networking profiles.

But at this stage in the game I just can’t see ever not using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Brazen Careerist, but believe it or not there was once a time when I barely used them (two of which I didn’t even adopt until 2009). Whoa was I behind the times. Thank god I caught up, huh?

I wonder, though, what would happen if I no longer “needed” to “network” to find a job or clients? Would I stop using Twitter (or at the least cut back on my use)? Would I abandon updating my LinkedIn profile (there wouldn’t be that much to update on my “resume” anyways, right)? Would I stop attending tweetups and networking events?

I wonder about these things because I don’t want to stop any of that. Right now–because I’m on the search for job opportunities–I can justify the time invested in all of that as well worth the value. If I couldn’t justify the time put in any longer, would I have to cut myself off from tweeting like a crazy person? Perhaps that’s the most responsible and productive action to take, though. Twitter and social media can be such a distraction that unless it is part of your strategy to reach your goals, we can really only consider it recreational fun and our time with social networking should be limited, right?

Not only that, but I want to make sure that I’m being authentic and my “brand” doesn’t scream, “I’m only here to help me, not you!” I want to make sure that I’m involved in social media/networking for the right reasons; reasons that will stick around for a while.

But in the end, you know what? I don’t think I would ever stop using social networking sites because networking is so much more than “finding a job”. Networking is so important in all aspects of life.

This is something I’ve always been told but didn’t realize personally and actually start taking it seriously until very recently. And after discovering how much I love connecting and talking with people I just don’t see myself ever in a position (for work or fun) that wouldn’t benefit from continuing to be socially-networked.

What about you? Do you see yourself cutting back or quitting social media any time in the future? Do you think it’s here to stay, or that once the economy picks up and people aren’t scrounging around for jobs anymore that social networking’s popularity will die down?

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  • emilyjasper

    Your post is appropriate because many people are closing out their facebook accounts. One aspect of social media that was a life breath for many of us just cut right out. I do think that a lot of the ways I keep connected to my internet friends I'd want to keep updated. It's what makes this so fun!

  • http://eemusings.wordpress.com eemusings

    I'm not actively job hunting, but still maintain my social networking profiles. I do it more for the enjoyment than for what it might bring to me careerwise.

    I didn't even join Twitter till over a year ago and didn't actively start using it for about 5-6 months. So I was a late adopter too!

    I have a blog twitter (anonymous) and a real name twitter, in which I follow and interact with other Aucklanders, people in the industry, etc. I try to participate in conversation and share interesting links, and make connections/keep in touch with people I might not otherwise be able to connect to.

  • stephanerd

    Now that I'm at the point where I have so much work on my plate I sometimes have to turn stuff down (god that sounds smug; I don't mean it to be)… I still have no intention of quitting the Twittersphere. I mean, for the most part, I was never using it to find work. Rather, I was using it to build a brand and keep myself in the public eye; to establish myself as an authority; to publicize the work I already had, pretty much 'cause I find my work so darn exciting! Most of all, though, I'm on Twitter to connect with my peers and share interesting content. I don't need my followers/following to give me work; I just want to have a conversation!

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    When I wrote this I wasn't thinking about all this hoopla going on with Facebook at all, actually. But it certainly is timely, isn't it? I haven't decided what to do about my Facebook account: on one side I've been using it less and less frequently… and on the other side I just couldn't imagine deleting an account that I've put so much effort into over the past 6 years. I never used Facebook for anything but keeping up with personal face-to-face friends for most of that time anyways though, so even if I did end up stop using it or deleting the account I think it would be for other reasons (privacy concerns or just because my network moved from Facebook to Twitter, for example), not because I decided I didn't need to participate in the social-networking world anymore.

    And you're right… social networking is just plain fun, why would I want to cut that out? haha. I don't know how I would keep up with all my internet friends without it, either, but I'm concerned that I'll run out of time and my priorities just might change over time…

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    So I guess what I'm hearing then is that we're all just here to connect and network in a casual way, which to me is the perfect way to go. Whereas using social networking to solely connect with people who can help your career is narcissistic and lame.

    Do you tweet and blog about work-relevant topics though? If so, you're at the least using social networking to promote your own brand and knowledge in your industry.

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    I do get the feeling though, that freelancers and independent consultants who rely on having a large network are more present on social networking sites than say… someone with a steady 9-5 job planned out for them for the next 10 years where their job performance isn't tied to having a network at all. I don't go around telling people that if they want to be anyone they need to be active on some social networks, but for some freelancers I *would* tell them they'd be dumb to not even give it a try.

    But on the other hand, I'm reading a lot of Seth Godin and other productivity books & blogs, and they're constantly yelling at us about how we spend too much time checking social media and how it's a waste of our time for the most part because it's taking away from the REAL WORK that we should be doing. So then I think (as you're probably experiencing now that you're busier), hmmm, what if my time does become more scarce, my priorities change, and I decide to follow this advice, can I really cut back THAT much on social media and networking? Because I'm using it pretty much for many of the same reasons you are (minus the part about having such darn exciting work to share)!

    I think the lesson here is (which I'm now discovering): know why you're using SM and incorporate it into your larger goals–allowing for some play time, of course!

    Thanks Steph, insightful as usual!

  • http://www.nathaniajohnson.com Nathania Johnson

    I think it's important to keep networking even after you settle into a steady gig. After I got a job as a blogger, I was intermittent with my social (and in-person) networking. That has made my post-gig life more challenging. You never know what life will bring you – so always keep good ties with your network. Make true relationships – not just people that can help you get a job. It will bring more color to your life no matter what stage you're in.

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  • http://www.scotttempleman.com/ Scott Templeman

    Twitter has quickly become an online addiction (I started on it 9/09), becoming an amazing source of news & cool new people. It's also handy for getting customer service (much more so than phone & email). I would sooner go without big media news than Twitter at this point. Anyone connected with me on Facebook knows that I probably need addiction counseling and I don't even joke about quiting or deleting my account. While these networks can be (quite) distracting, I think for the most part that have increased my value as a worker: I'm hyper-connected and can function at a high level for my company while wearing many hats (Marketing, customer service, PR). 10 years ago, this would have been impossible. I think companies are awakening to the value of social media as a collaboration tool, so discussions of Quiting SMNs will be that of privacy concerns over productivity ones.

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    Great advice Nathania. Did you start getting more involved in social networking after you realized it was important, or do you still struggle to find the time to make networking a priority now that you have a steady gig going on? That's what I would be worried about.

  • http://www.dan-london.com Dan London

    Great post.

    It comes down to getting value. You found that Social provided value when conducting a job hunt. If you keep seeing value as a networking tool, then you should keep using it.

    I find myself struggling to find value in location based Social tools. I don't visit enough places where the owners reward check-ins nor do I get out enough to grab a mayorship of a location. I'm starting to debate actually continuing to check-in anymore due to not getting value from the services.

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    I'm beginning to battle with the usefulness of location-based SM applications as well. I can certainly see the value in it for many businesses and event organizers, but on a personal level I have to think about whether it's worth the time I spend checking-in to continue, too. “Getting the most points” each week just isn't incentive enough to continue using them. There are a few coffee shops & places I go that offer small 10% discounts just for even checking in, but I've still never even redeemed the value because I either forget or I'm embarrassed to pull out Foursquare on my phone with a line behind me…

    I'll probably still use location-based apps if for no other reason than I'm a geography & map dork :)

  • http://www.dan-london.com Dan London

    The “item” feature in Gowalla is kind of interesting. I remember reading an article about a person that followed a dollar bill for a week. Basically would follow each person that got it. I found that fascinating. The Gowalla “items” are neat to see where they were before I got them. I'd love for them to expand on that functionality.

    I also feel that social media has enabled me to make quite a few contacts that I wouldn't have otherwise. It has been very valuable so far.

  • http://dailydemitasse.com Daily Demitasse

    I completely agree that networking is an ongoing process. There is no way I could give up social media anyway. It will evolve, but we must adapt with it to keep our businesses up to date and always “in the know”. Since I'm on so many different SM platforms and networking sites, I don't spend a lot of time of any one thing, but I love finding out what others have to say with the same perspectives and areas of interests as I do.

  • http://dailydemitasse.com Daily Demitasse

    As a freelancer, you do need a large network. At the same time, I do find myself not getting as much work done as I'd like from being “distracted” by SM. It's just a matter of creating a balance and setting priorities straight.

  • http://thesocialchameleons.blogspot.com Jenn Pedde

    Love this. Don't ever leave social media! :) Networking is SO much more than just doing it when you need it. Should be a lifestyle, as long as you're not acting like a salesman.

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    I don't use Gowalla at all. I stopped after Foursquare and TriOut — Are you suggesting I try *another* one out?! :) Teasing, but really there are so many different applications that have so many different features, it's hard to know which ones are going to be useful into you're out there trying it out yourself.

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    Of course YOU would never leave social media :) But… you MIGHT leave Facebook, huh? Facebook isn't actually a networking tool though, so it's sort of irrelevant to this particular conversation.

  • http://www.dan-london.com Dan London

    I think that over time, consumers will have to check in to each location using a different app. BrightKite just launched a deal with StarBucks. FourSquare has deals in the works. Gowalla just had a promotion with InCase. Triout has a bunch of local promotions.

    I still check in, but have begun just picking an app per week to use. Even that is getting kind of tiring and make me question why I do it.

  • http://www.pam3la.org Pamela

    I'm cutting back on my personal Facebook use because it DOES take up so much of my time especially when I'm trying to devote the majority of my time to my small business (other than the day job). I'm still using it professionally though and will continue to use Twitter for professional & personal. I no longer use location based social networking. It wasn't helping me professionally.

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    I definitely see the value in continuing to use Facebook if you run a small business, ESPECIALLY if it's local. But as far as on a personal level I've mostly stopped using Facebook except to post articles, use the FB message system if I don't have someone's email address, or to simply look up information about people that I need. It's fun, but for me I have to focus my time on the networks that I'm going to get more value out of so that I don't feel like I'm wasting away my precious time, haha.

  • http://marianlibrarian.com Marian Schembari

    I realize I'm commenting waaaay late, but I really like this post! Though I have to say, I rarely see job seekers on Twitter. I think we see what our network “requires” us to see. I don't know how you're using Twitter to find a job (or if you're even still looking), but I know when I was looking for work I joined the appropriate chats and followed the appropriate people. Meaning I wasn't actually networking in the circle I wanted to BE in. That's the thing with social networking sites. They're not affective if all we do is network with people like us. It wasn't until I actively sought after people with the jobs that I wanted to have that I started seeing some traction in my job search.

    I have, however, often asked myself this same question. But social media is so much a part of my life now that I can't imagine it any other way!

  • http://carleemallard.com/ Carlee Mallard

    I've had some other revelations since I wrote this, too, and I'm glad you commented because it forced me to re-read what I wrote nearly 2 months ago. In my most recent post I actually came to the realization that, yes, I may only see a lot of job seekers on Twitter because those are the people in my network; those are the people I met through Brazen, #u30pro chats, #jobhuntchat chats, etc. And being a job-hunter, you tend to commiserate and connect with other job seekers. So maybe my statistics (or rather lack thereof, haha) are off as far as who is actively using social media.

    And although I'm technically still in the job search market, it's not the main purpose of my social media use. I think Twitter was really useful early on helping me to figure out what I SHOULD BE doing if I want to make a career change, but now that I know what I should be doing, I can relax a bit and just be myself. The self that still uses social media!

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