This document discusses how to avoid being overwhelmed by the various social media platforms and provides tips on using them effectively. It explains that LinkedIn is for professional networking, Facebook is more for personal connections, and Twitter is for microblogging. The key is to use the right tools for your specific purpose and goals. Discipline is important to limit time spent and maintain priorities. Face-to-face interactions should still be prioritized over social media.

1. 4/9/2010 1 Avoiding Social Media Overwhelm An informal presentation for the Holistic Entrepreneurs Alliance | April 12, 2010 | PintSize Graphics & Web Hosting, Inc.

2. 4/9/2010 2 Facebook Twitter, MySpace ... What ARE all these things, anyway?

3. 4/9/2010 3 Social media sites are similar to real world social functions, with a twist...

4. 4/9/2010 4 ...everyone knows who everyone knows.

5. 4/9/2010 5 Linked In is for professional networking -- past & present co-workers, business groups, great for job searches

6. 4/9/2010 6 Facebook is for friends, family, social groups (clubs, churches, causes) and commercial uses

7. 4/9/2010 7 MySpace was a pioneer in social networking; it’s now used more for DIY entertainment (music, movies)

8. 4/9/2010 8 Twitter is more like online grafitti – say what you want in 140 characters or less Spontaneous microblogging, loosely structured by topic and by followers/following

9. 4/9/2010 9 Trying to keep up with multiple social media accounts is time-consuming and even overwhelming. It’s sometimes like drinking from a firehose.

10. 4/9/2010 10 The trick is to use the right tool for the job. (Pardon my bad Photoshopping.)

11. 4/9/2010 11 Purpose: personal or business? Are you on Facebook to find old classmates? To monitor your kids? Or are you there to find prospects by answering questions and building your reputation as an expert?

12. 4/9/2010 12 Linked In: Searching through contacts to find a connection with a company you want to pitch. Searching through contacts to see if that Ted Smith is the same guy who was in your freshman algebra class.

13. 4/9/2010 13 Facebook: Sharing links and knowledge so others recognize and trust you as an authority in your field. Composing a series of witty retorts to post on your best friend’s comments wall.

14. 4/9/2010 14 Twitter: Following thought leaders in your field to stay on top of what’s new, and “retweeting” vital info to your own followers. Falling into the black hole of People Magazine’s celebrity Twitter feed for 30 minutes, like a bad episode of TMZ.

15. 4/9/2010 15 Use toolbar utilities and all-in-one programs to minimize your time (and temptation): Hoot Suite http://hootsuite.com/ Hellotxt http://hellotxt.com/

16. 4/9/2010 16 If your client base is local, make an effort to find local users: MeetUp.com http://www.meetup.com The Twittering Town Series http://mashable.com/tag/twittering-town-series/

17. 4/9/2010 17 Bottom Line: Social media can be a great way to find old friends, locate business prospects, and build your network, but... DISCIPLINE IS THE KEY.

18. 4/9/2010 18 “We are not experiencing information overload; we are experiencing filter failure.” - Clay Shirky Remember your priorities and purpose. Limit your time. Don’t let social media replace face-to-face contact, whether business or pleasure.

19. 4/9/2010 19 References: http://www.intheknowresources.com/articles/media-marketing articles/199-social-media-overwhelm http://www.thehomebiznetwork.com/social-media overwhelm/tag/social-media-marketing http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking