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Social networking expert Melissa Wilson addressed social media as marketing and business tool for Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C. and the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce

St. Louis, MO–The impact of social media for businesses in successful marketing was the topic addressed by Melissa Wilson, founder of YourSocialMedia and Wilson Monnig Creative. She discussed new opportunities with Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C. Attorneys at Law and the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Wilson advised that social media should be a part of any business or organization’s marketing plan, just as traditional marketing, such as print advertising and radio and television commercials. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are the most popular now.

“While it is gratifying that companies are eager to begin a social media campaign,” says Wilson, “research, planning and analysis upfront will make that plan professional and easy to launch. The greatest benefits of business social networking are lead generation, sales, industry relevance and customer satisfaction for repeat sales. Devising a solid plan in the beginning will make all that work worthwhile.”

Facebook has become a big marketing aid and is used by companies to promote such items as coupons, sweepstakes, news, sales and discussion boards. Reasonably priced advertising is another plus for small companies. Facebook ads convert to considerably higher distribution and at half the price or less than Google.

Mary Ann McWilliams, executive director of the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce, says that “Melissa approached her subject in plain English and understandable terms. Our members are excited to take what Melissa told them back to their office and implement.” Wilson’s presentation was sponsored by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

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About YourSocialMedia.com
YourSocialNetwork.com is an initiative by Wilson Monnig Creative to help businesses and individuals understand the effectiveness of the different social media tools available to them, and integrate them into their marketing plans.

About Wilson Monnig Creative
Wilson Monnig Creative LLC is an innovative marketing, public relations, advertising, website, Internet search engine optimization and print design company. A leading provider for social networking and new media projects, Wilson Monnig also helps clients understand and use new marketing methods to compete in today’s business climate.

The group’s nationwide client base includes companies in real estate, agriculture, automotive, folk artisans, personal fitness and entrepreneurial start-ups. Founded by Melissa Wilson in 2006, the company is located in the St. Peters/St. Charles/St. Louis, Missouri, area. Wilson has assembled award winning, experienced talent who are adept at managing client projects from conception through implementation.

A LinkedIn Open Networker (LION) is a member of LinkedIn who invites and accepts invitations from hundreds, even thousands of other LinkedIn members who they don’t know personally to expand their network. LION participants usually type the abbreviation LION or the open networking group name they belong to and their email address on their profile page to let others know they are willing to connect.

LIONs typically agree to not click the “I don’t know (NAME OF PERSON)” button in response to an invitation or mark the invitation as spam. Doing either can cause LinkedIn to impose restrictions on the inviting person. It is relatively risk-free to invite a LION you find in an advanced search into your network, but some LIONs require people to write personal invitations explaining why they want to connect with them before they accept. Review every LION’s profile and contact details before inviting them to connect. If you don’t want to connect with a particular person, simply archive the invitation.

There are several open-network groups on LinkedIn. Most are free, but require that you show its group name or logo on your LinkedIn profile. Doing so makes it easier for other open networkers to find you. To find the top open network groups, type “LION” in the LinkedIn Search Groups box. To learn more about each group, visit http://www.Groups-To-Join.com. I will talk more about these groups in next week’s blog and provide specific guidance on how to become an open networker.

When LinkedIn began, there were no limits on how many invitations one could send. Today, new LinkedIn members can have a total of 3,000 connections, which is usually more than enough, but it is possible to request more invitations in blocks of up to 500. Originally the number of connections a person had was visible for all to see. Now, when anyone gathers more than 500 connections, only “500+” is displayed instead of the actual number. (The account owner can see the actual total). LinkedIn has quietly clamped down on LinkedIn open networkers who connect with more than 30,000 people by preventing them from adding any additional new connections.

Should you become an open networker?
While I am not an open networker myself (but may become one someday), I have asked several open networkers about their experience and have yet to hear one say they have been spammed or bothered by annoying emails from open networking groups. The reason? If these groups spammed members, they would be banned from LinkedIn. Tools are also in place so you can easily contact LinkedIn customer service if such a problem did occur.

Some view open networkers as helpful people open to assisting others in their job search and networking opportunities. They are also seen as a bridge that links people, providing 2nd degree connections for everyone within a person’s connection group. Others see them as opportunists looking to leverage their connections to spam, annoy, or sell to unwitting strangers.

Ultimately the decision to open network is up to you based upon how useful a large network can be in your job search. There is value in being able to interact with people from the same industry or profession, or to build relationships with key people (including recruiters) who may help you some day. On the other hand, exponentially expanding your network takes work and a willingness to help people within your network (by providing advice or connecting them to people you know).

Think about your network philosophy before you decide whether to be an open networker. While I haven’t taken the leap yet, I do typically accept invitations from people who are members of the same LinkedIn groups because we have mutual interests and could be of help to each other in the future. I also accept invitations from people who read my blog or attend my job-seeker workshops. If you have read this far in my blog, please feel free to invite me to connect with you! My email address (which you will need to connect with me) is kathybernard.mktg@yahoo.com.

Questions to consider before you become an open networker:

• Will you connect with anyone who invites you or will you have a more limited acceptance strategy?
• Are you interested in nurturing relationships with people with whom you connect or do you just want to add contacts to build your network with no interaction?
• Are you willing to put in the time and attention required to accept many invitations and archive those invitations you don’t wish to accept?

Build Your Network before Your Choose to Be an Open Networker
Even if you are hesitant to be an open networker, expand your LinkedIn network through other means:

• Invite people you know who are already on LinkedIn. Find them using the tools LinkedIn provides. LinkedIn can search your Yahoo!, AOL, Gmail, or Hotmail address book for LinkedIn participants. Also download the Outlook toolbar. With it, you can see this list from your LinkedIn dashboard in Outlook. Anyone who is already on LinkedIn will likely accept your invitation. For best results, write a brief personal message and, if need be, remind them who you are.
• Expand your network by inviting people in your industry, former coworkers, classmates, residents in your city, etc. Also accept those who invite you to connect. In the years I have been on LinkedIn, I have never encountered a problem due to accepting a stranger’s invitation.
• Invite people in a LinkedIn group in which you are a member. Also, invite people on a local group or association mailing list, for which you are a known member.
• Connect with power networkers (those with 500+ connections) who you know personally or who are known to be open to accepting invitations. For best results, contact the person directly or through InMail or via an introduction before you send them a direct invitation request.

Have you found open networking to be beneficial or a bust in your job search? Share your comments! Forward this email to your job-seeking friends by clicking the envelope icon in the teal box at the bottom of the blog post. Receive this blog by email every Monday by adding your email address to the Subscribe box at the bottom of the blog post. Thanks!

In last week’s Get a Job! blog post, I shared with you ways to re-energize your job search. This week, I encourage you to strengthen your confidence by seeking and receiving positive feedback from your friends and past coworkers.

Request recommendations from LinkedIn connections … but take extra steps to get the best recommendations possible. To request a recommendation:
1. From the LinkedIn home page, click the ‘+’ next to ‘Profile’ in the left navigation bar. Select ‘Recommendations’.
2. Click the ‘Request Recommendations’ tab at the top of the Recommendations page.
3. Choose what area of your background you want to be recommended for (choose from the drop down list of jobs and educational experiences (the list is populated from your profile entries).
4. Click on the address book icon to ‘Decide who you’ll ask’.
5. Select the names of those you want the request to be sent to and click ‘Finished’ (This will take you back to the Recommendations page).
6. ‘Create your message’ for the recommendation request or use the message provided.
7. Click on the ‘Send’ button.
(Note: Each recipient will receive an individual email, not a group email).

To ensure you get more and better recommendations:
1. Send an email to the same people, letting them know you have asked them for a LinkedIn recommendation from them. If you notice (from viewing their LinkedIn profile) that they are LinkedIn novices, include basic instructions so that they will know how to give you a recommendation.
2. Attach your resume or include a list of attributes and experiences about yourself. Also tell them specifically what type of jobs you are seeking. Add your LinkedIn profile link to your email signature.
3. Encourage them to call you if they have questions … or job leads, for that matter!

Other Ways to Restore Your Confidence
Get together with unemployed friends. Arrange to meet at a coffee house or cafe to network and share job leads. Set aside time to remind each other how qualified you truly are. It’s easy to forget that when the phone isn’t ringing with job offers.

Send your unemployed friends job leads and words of encouragement in their job search. Most will respond in kind … and you will gain a closer connection with a comrade in the unemployment battle.

Re-energize your job search and restore your confidence … after all, it can help you Get a Job!

How do you keep your confidence up during your job search? Or, how do you maximize your LinkedIn recommendations? Please add your comments below. Forward this email to your job-seeking friends by clicking the envelope icon in the teal box at the bottom of the blog post. Receive this blog by email every Monday by adding your email address to the Subscribe box at the bottom of the blog post. Thanks!