networking

Twitter: Not Just a Water Cooler

by Marian Schembari on September 7, 2010

Make sure you’re signed up for my FREE newsletter. Get consulting delivered straight to your inbox (it’ll rock your world).

The very brilliant (and blog-crushable) Naomi Dunford wrote an interesting and provocative post the other day about being useful on Twitter. She wrote:

I HATE useful tips. HATEHATEHATE. I am on Twitter to waste time and screw around with my peeps. Twitter is not my study group, it’s my water cooler.

I was shocked when I read this. One of the biggest pieces of advice I give to clients is to provide value. People don’t follow you on Twitter to read your chats, they want knowledge that only you can provide. Not your instant messaging.

So, in true Marian Fashion I left a comment. To paraphrase:

One of my biggest Twitter pet peeves is when someone’s stream is full of @replies. Use AIM or Gchat. Don’t take up my entire feed because you feel the need to do the watercooler thing. Twitter isn’t JUST a water cooler. It’s abso-freaking-lutely a place to chat and make friends and be social, but it’s also a place to share information, experiences, tips and links. While I agree with you on a lot of this post, take it easy on people who are genuinely trying to help and actually have good information to give. We’re not all social media slimeballs.

I realize Naomi wasn’t (or couldn’t be) saying that all tips are useless. She responded to my comment saying, “Where I get very concerned is when gurus say, ‘Give useful tips’ to people who don’t know what that means.”

So what does “be useful” really mean? How can you harness the power of value (ugh – I know, sorry, that’s horrible) to really make Twitter an effective and fun place?

How to be Useful

To illustrate, I want to tie in to my last post on the Social Media Trap. The overarching answer to this question is: You need to be ingrained within your niche. Don’t go tweeting a social media vomit. Instead, think about your target customers/clients/readers. What are they interested in? What do they want?

Who are the followers you frequently engage with? What are their interests? Where could they use the most help?

Back to the Sukie example from last week. I suggested she provide health-related value to her followers by offering easy and actionable tasks to make their lives healthier. Take a look at some of her tweets and why they add value without being anti-social.


I love these tips. They’re useful in a way that’s not obvious, but not so obscure we don’t know where to start. We all know to be healthy we need to exercise and eat right. How many magazines and health gurus tell us this? Boring! Those kinds of tips are what Naomi seems to be talking about. Tips like Sukie’s, though, are pure gold. She doesn’t bombard us with facts because she only tweets out her Vitality Tip once per day. And her tips are actionable. I can go right now to the grocery store to get some seaweed. I can call up my local animal shelter to get some puppy love. Sukie is showing us her mad skillz, knowledge, authority on the subject by providing tips. But her Twitter feed is also full of @replies, retweets and just fun observations about her day:

A tweet like this isn’t regurgitated social media bullshit. It’s fresh, full of personality and useful without being in your face. If you look at Sukie’s Twitter stream you’ll see she does an awesome job of chatting with followers and being useful. As you can see, there is a way to accomplish both.

Naomi compares Twitter to a water cooler, and I love that analogy. She also says, “[I]f you came up to me out of the blue at the water cooler and gave me a bullet point on how to optimize my email subject lines, I would first ignore you, then avoid you, then punch you in the nose.”

Sure, but Twitter isn’t just a water cooler. It is what you make of it, I guess, and to each her own. Personally, I use Twitter to meet people, but I also hunt down links, new blogs, advice from my favorite users. Part water cooler part daily conference on things I care about.

Now the mic is on you, folks. How do you use Twitter? Instead of bashing on those who try to be useful, what are some awesome examples you’ve seen of people who are successful at it?

{ 23 comments }

How To Be A Completely Authentic Tweep (Without Sending People Screaming in the Opposite Direction)

by Marian Schembari on August 17, 2010

This is a guest post by the fabulously fab Steph Auteri – writer and coach and diva extraordinaire. Seriously, one of my favorite online peeps, y’all. Read it and weep.

Just last month, I subjected myself to a video interview over at Generation Meh, despite my paranoia over the way my hair looked, and my inability to settle upon just one normal facial expression. Over the course of the interview, Maureen and I talked about career coaching, consulting, and the freelance writing roadblocks I could help clients move past, but things got really interesting when I was asked about my sex writing, and how my promotion of it on Twitter affected my credibility as a career coach.

I knew the question was coming, but I still struggled with it. Because — honestly? — I don’t know how it will affect my chance at success as a career coach and, sometimes, I worry about it. But I like to think that those who are attracted to what I have to offer are attracted to the whole package… and to what my tendency to overshare represents. By being open and honest and completely authentic, I hope to connect with others on a deeper level and, as a result, help them.

And that’s what I look for in others, too. When I’m spending (far too much) time on Twitter, I’m not interested in accounts that spam me with their own links, or accounts that don’t engage in conversation or share relevant links. I’m not interested in accounts that do nothing but sell, and reveal nothing real about themselves. And I don’t believe that the bulk of those accounts are even truly successful in their business goals.

How to be authentic on Twitter without sacrificing professionalism

1. Be An Open Book. Talk about the activities of your day — especially as they relate to your work — without being salesy about it. Talk about the things that have nothing to do with your work… the things you love… actual life experiences. When appropriate, post photos using Twitpic, or another photo sharing app. People love being able to put a face to a username. If you’re into vibrators, classical singing, hoop dancing, and cats, feel free to be open about that, too. Consider it your personal brand. You should probably refrain, however, from posting photos of your vibrators. Cat photos are allowed.

2. Be Helpful. While it’s okay to use an application that allows you to tweet your blog posts as they publish, you shouldn’t be sharing only your own content. Share other blog posts and magazine articles that are relevant to your brand. Doing so will be seen as a gesture of goodwill by the content creators, and will make you a valuable resource to your followers. Don’t go RTing willy-nilly, though. Only RT those pieces you’ve actually read and enjoyed, as each tweet will be seen as an endorsement by you.

3. Be Social. I don’t like following those who can’t be bothered to @reply to others. After all, Twitter has always seemed — at least to me — a tool for engagement. If you’re not engaging in conversation with your fellow tweeps, how can we even be sure there’s a humanbeing behind that RSS feed? So take care to respond to those who try to start a dialogue with you. @reply others, even if they haven’t @replied you first. Ask questions in your tweets, or even in your RTs, as a means of inspiring discussion and interaction. People respond to people. Not faceless brands.

4. Be Human. With all those experts, gurus, ninjas, and rock stars crowding the Twittersphere (I personally like to think of myself as a pretty pretty princess), tweeps are left hungry for someone who is merely human. You’re not infallible. Don’t pretend to be. Why would anyone seek out help from you if they felt you couldn’t understand or empathize with them? Show your weaknesses. Show your mistakes. Show your self-doubts and show the instances in which you’ve struggled. Then, show how you overcame those things, or are managing them. Your followers will appreciate your honesty, and will feel as if there is something to learn from your experiences.

5. Be Sensible. Of course, there is such a thing as TMI, even when it comes to me. When should you hold back? There’s no one answer to this, as it varies from industry to industry. Some companies and/or industries are more open-minded, or blasé, or comfortable with online transparency, than others. Ask yourself: Would I be comfortable with my employer/colleagues/clients seeing this? Also, try to refrain from being outwardly negative about specific projects or clients. It will come back to bite you in the booty. Either the client will see it and become offended, or others will avoid hiring you because they don’t want to be the victim of your next angry tweet.

Want more of Steph Auteri’s boundless wisdom and cat photos? She just happens to write a blog on the freelance lifestyle, and also offers career coaching to those looking to navigate their way through the publishing industry, or rock it as freelance writers. In fact, you can still enroll in her upcoming e-course, 5 Weeks To Freelance Awesome. She is also a freelance writer and editor.

{ 42 comments }

I think social media has changed my personality

by Marian Schembari on June 30, 2010

This week has been interesting in terms of “studies” done on how social media is affecting our brains. According to Mashable and Fast Company, using sites like Facebook and Twitter increases the amount of oxytocin we produce. Basically, tweeting makes us feel good in our brains, reduces stress, etc etc. I could quote the whole study or you can just click on the links above for the facts so I don’t butcher them.

I’ve stopped freaking out in groups

The reason I wanted to write about this is because my boyfriend, Sam, pointed out a change in my social skills when I visited last month. I hadn’t seen the guy in almost a year, and, well, people change. Obviously. The thing is, I used to be enormously shy. I remember this one time I went to a party at Sam’s, probably a few months into our relationship. He has this amazing group of friends who have been nothing but welcoming and lovely to me. The thing is, they’ve all been friends for years and I just waltz in, which would make anyone uncomfortable. I remember this party because I stayed for maybe 5 minutes. I felt physically ill being in a group of people, knowing I had to talk to them when they’d probably be having more fun talking to each other. While I eventually got over myself a little bit and became friends with all these fabulous people, it took a long time and engaging new people was still difficult for me.

Fast forward a year and I go stay in a house full of them for 3 weeks. And let me tell you, I never got that uncomfortable feeling. I used to die a little inside when Sam would leave the room for a bit because then I’d have to attempt to be entertaining and whatnot without him as support. I expected that to happen this time around. But it didn’t.

It’s weird because I didn’t notice it at first. Sam just said to me one day, “It seems like you’re really more comfortable around people now.” That makes me sound like kind of a hermit before, but the general idea is true.

Social media has made me more confident of my mad skillz

And honestly? I think it’s this blog. I think it’s Twitter. We all have our strengths, and “working a room” isn’t one of mine. I’ve never been able to go up to strangers and just strike up a conversation. But lately I’ve been meeting so many Twitter friends – people I’ve never met before, but our common social media obsession has us chatting for hours in bars or cafes.

There’s also the fact that I finally feel like I’m useful, like I know what I’m talking about and am worth listening to. That sounds emo, I know, but I don’t know how else to put it. When it comes to blogging and social media and freelancing and books, I know my shit. So it’s beyond great to meet new people and talk about all the shit we know together! It’s made me more comfortable in groups.

Am I the only one who’s noticed this about myself? For all you folks on Twitter or keeping blogs, has the attention changed how you interact with people in real life?

{ 26 comments }

Clarifying My Feature In Real Simple

by Marian Schembari on May 20, 2010

I don’t know if you heard, because I’m not sure I bragged enough, but my handsome mug was in the June 2010 issue of Real Simple magazine. WHAT. UP.

If you want to ogle, here’s an okay quality shot of the page below:

Wheeeeeeeeee!!!!

I realize that Real Simple isn’t the magazine my target audience usually reads, but I would like to give my take on the points made at the bottom of my feature (RANDOM UPDATE: This statement is dumb, but I can’t take it out because there are comments below about it. Just note that I actually now agree that the Real Simple audience does actually overlap with mine.)

1. Be succinct. Well, yeah. You are limited to 160 characters but be catchy! I used a template provided by One Day, One Job and I think the creator, Willy Frazen did a great job. Here’s another good example of a catchy ad (and not so catchy ad). Some other tips:

  • Include the name of your employer – it’s like when someone shouts your name. You automatically turn around.
  • Mention something awesome you did…
  • Or why that specific company is awesome.
  • Obviously link to your resume and include your full name. Duh.

2. Project a professional appearance. Yes. And no. Maybe don’t have a photo of yourself taking jello shots , but those pictures that look like high school photos with cloudy backgrounds are just tacky in the real world. Be “professional”, yes, but don’t be boring.

3. Take a more conservative route if you’re looking for a job in finance, government, or education. Obama has a Twitter account, ya’ll (he’s on LinkedIn too). Now, I never said this and I’m no career expert, but REALLY? I just don’t agree. This is the part of the article I take most “offense” with. The whole damn point of social media is to put yourself out there. Everyone uses Facebook. Even people in finance, government, or education.

And it’s not “unconservative” to be on social media sties. I realize – and have mentioned before – that putting up advertisements to land a job is a little douchey. But IT WORKS. While social media may be new and many people over the age of 30 maybe blanch at the idea of tweeting, but it’s really just networking. Just not in the way people are used to. So don’t go calling a supremely awesome way to network “unconservative” or go telling the masses that certain industries don’t use it. Cuz that’s just not true.

{ 27 comments }

5 Things You Can Do Online RIGHTTHISSECOND To Speed Up Your Job Search

by Marian Schembari on May 12, 2010

Spend today and tomorrow SANS RESUME. Toss out your cover letter and get crackin’ on the sites where all the cool kids hang out. Here are my favorite easy, super speedy, more-fun-than-Craigslist top 5 things to do immediately to speed up the dreaded job search progress:

1. Answer LinkedIn questions in your field of expertise. Check out my FREE VIDEO (and yeah, that needed capitalization) in the sidebar for a full tutorial on how to do that like a rock star.

2. Make a list of the top 5 blogs in your industry (not massive news sites or Gawker-esque blogs) and comment on said blogs. Email the editor or Top Blogger and tell them how much you like their site. I, for one, really like love letters. Then follow them on Twitter and retweet the post you commented on. This is a full fledged attack and shouldn’t be done with everyone, only your favorites. No one likes a fake, mmm-kay?

3. Check out your dream company on LinkedIn. Find out their recent hires and connect with them. Send them a message asking how they got that job and advice on the best way to get your resume seen. Also find out your dream job title at that company and do the same. Note: Don’t be spammy about it. Don’t ask them to pass along your resume or take up too much of their time. Just be personable and say you’d really appreciate one tip or experience.

4. Research the major Twitter hashtags for your industry and follow them. Contribute to the conversation.

5. Join the Facebook groups (or fan pages, or whatever they are now) for your favorite companies. Post on their wall, and contribute to the conversation. I’d prefer to not use the word “engage,” so don’t make me, but you get the point. If you have a blog, share a relevant post with the community.

Yeah. Maybe don't do this.

That’s it! Have fun and report your progress in the comments. I love to see how you guys are doing :)

P.S. Want more? Sign up to get into on the Pajama Job Hunt, my new course that will kick your college career counselor’s ass. Click here for the awesomeness.

{ 31 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →