Sirona Says

Social Media at the EGBA

If you are in East Grinstead, West Sussex on the 24th June, then you may want to pay a visit here...
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I am doing a presentation on social media for business:

9.30    Using Social Media such as, Twitter, Facebook and Blogs – to grow your business
Sirona Social Media specialises in helping small businesses understand what social media means to them, and how they can use social media marketing to help them grow their business. Social Media like Twitter, Facebook and Blogs can be powerful business tools that should be a part of an online marketing strategy. They will help you further build your brand, engage with your community and drive new customer traffic to your website.
The presentation will be an overview of what social media is, as well as demonstrating how a business can make it part of their sales and marketing strategy.

So if you are around, come along - it will be worthwhile!!

Essential tips for job seekers using LinkedIn to find a job

With jobless totals still rising, there is seemingly less advice (of the quality variety anyway) being given to job seekers. One thing that is surprising for me, is that many more people still don't use -and even worse- don't even know about the business networking site LinkedIn.
It is a great site to project yourself in the working environment, and while it may well be populated by large numbers of recruiters (a big criticism in the US I hear), is that such a bad thin when you are trying to find a job?

I have already written a LinkedIn beginners guide( Download LinkedIn for beginners here)  that will help all the LinkedIn newbies get started, but I just wanted to highlight a few tips that I find myself sharing with job seeking friends on a regular basis at the moment.

So here are my key tips for using LinkedIn to help job seekers looking for a job:

1. Don't sign up with LinkedIn unless you are committed to spend some time making it work. Networking is about investing your time, and if that is something that doesn't interest you, or you can't be bothered, then stop now, buy a book and sit on the beach all summer waiting for a job to come your way! (You will have a long wait!)
2. Profile. This is absolutely essential and something that you shouldn't take lightly. It should effectively be your online CV, and with this - unlike a paper cv - make sure you upload a decent looking photo  (headshot) of yourself. Make sure you have all the correct dates for your work history, and that it reads well with NO TYPO's! Don't forget, many employers check for online profiles before they interview people (whether they should, is a different conversation!), so you don't want any glaring mistakes making their decision for them.
3. You need to expand your LinkedIn network with as many people that know as possible. Get all you business cards out, go through your email contacts and spend some time writing down all the people you have interacted with, directly and indirectly. Then search for them on LinkedIn and invite them to your network. Size matters with LinkedIn - the bigger your network, then the bigger you 2nd and 3rd level search network will be. For example I have 872 connections which makes my overall search network 15,500,000 - quite a powerful tool isn't it?
4. HOT TIP! Make sure you join a number of the groups (that are relevant to your sector), as these will become part fo your search zone as well. Many groups can be joined simple by requesting to join. Once accepted (usually very quickly) the people in that group will become part of your search network!
5. Make sure you tell people that you are actually looking for a new job. You have two opportunities to do this on LinkedIn -in your personal profile, where you can explain what you are (by red line in example), and then in the status section (by green line) where you can update you statuses as often as you like. It may sound obvious, but if people don't know you are available, then they won't talk to you about opportunities!
   
6. Ask current/previous colleagues for recommendations. Fortunately, LinkedIn makes this easy, and takes you through this process well by prompting you. This is a great way of adding to your credibility, and your online profile by showing your strengths, and the fact you were a valued employee (well hopefully anyway!). Also if you are/were a manager, recommendations from your staff is as equally powerful.
7. Use the power of LinkedIn to help you find the people you need to speak to. Hopefully you will have highlighted a number of companies that you want to work for (if not, don't worry, I will cover this aspect soon in this blog). These may be entirely new companies to you, and you will have no names to start with. There are three things to do next:
   
   • Look at the 'company profiles' of the companies you want to work for. Find out what the background are of the people who work there. Have you got similar skills?
   • Find out where current employees have previously worked - check their profiles - have you worked for a similar company?
   • Find the names of hiring managers, or HR staff that work there. You probably will have to contact them offline, but having the contact name will be a great start.
8. Do it now! If you are currently working, don't wait for you to become unemployed to start using LinkedIn, start now! Build your network before you need it, then when you need it, it will be one less area to get started.

LinkedIn is a brilliant tool, and combined with other social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, it then becomes a very powerful tool to help find a job.
Don't forget to link up with me, if you haven't already done so - I will happily accept!

Why do you like using social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter?

Social networks are no longer the preserve of generation Y'ers, or the younger generation Z'ers. While they may have started with that in mind, now the demographics of the social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are changing, and they are changing fast.
There was a time when if you mentioned social networks to people of a certain age (anyone over 30!), their eyes would roll and glaze over. This would be combined with a response of something like,"don't talk to me about those things, they are no good to me".
Well it seems that the 30+ age groups now think differently:

The fastest growing demographic on Facebook is the 35-44 year olds, closely followed by the 55+ year olds


The fastest growing demographic on Twitter is the 35-49 year olds

So if you are a generation X'er  like me, you fit inside one of these demographics, then (like me) you are probably using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter more than you ever have done. But why? And why is there also many people within these age groups flocking to the sites in a similar way?

Well, before you get excited and think I can give you the magic answer I can't (although I wish I could!!) All I can suggest some of the reasons why I use them more. Everyone will have their own ideas and reasons and I would like to hear yours, but just to get started, here are some of my reasons why I love the social media networking sites:

1. It started as a curiosity - a sort of 'what is all the hype about' approach. I started with LinkedIn two years ago, using it as a tool for my consulting business. Then Facebook and Twitter followed last year - and as a person that likes to build relationships for business etc I became an evangeliser very quickly when I saw how great these sites are for that.
2. They are all great for business. I find that I use LinkedIn, Facebook and particularly Twitter for building new business relationships and identifying new opportunities. I have met some fantastic contacts on these sites, that I would never have got access to otherwise.
3. Fonts of knowledge. They really are a tremendous source of mind blowing amounts of information. The recruitment /HR/ consulting space is well catered fro on all the networks, and the links, websites, ebooks, interviews, product knowledge etc etc that people post on these sites is just brilliant.
4. Sharing. It gives me the chance to really share information tips, experiences, contacts etc with a whole diversity of people around the globe. This blog is read worldwide, and I love being able to share my opinions and advice with many people - and the social networks just help me do that. Getting 'thank you's' from job seekers in America, Canada and New Zealand, really does make me feel good, and just drives me on further to share more.
5. Access to people you wouldn't normally get anywhere close to. Social media has broken down many barriers within the business world (and the celebrity world of course), and it allows 'normal' individuals to enter dialogue with high profile individuals that previously would have been out of bounds. Of course you still have to go about it in the right way, and make contact in a correct and respectful way, but at least you have a chance to engage with them. They may of course choose to ignore you, but hey, they did that before didn't they??
6. Engaging. Contrary to what people think about social networking - they are very engaging, and it both allows and facilitates conversation, relationships and opportunity.
7. It is fun!!

So as a generation X'er  who sits firmly in the 35-44 year old demographic ( I will let you guess which end!) I am thoroughly enjoying using social networking sites, and I am always open to exploring new ones.

What about you?

What do you like about social media?

Is this what happens with Twitter, Facebook and Blogging?

Guy Kawasaki's excellent Twitter as a Business Twool presentation

I came across this over lunch today, and really felt it was worth sharing with you all, especially if you are new to Twitter and are trying to get your head around it!  It is from the brilliant Guy Kawasaki, the well respected innovator.

It is a presentation by him showing how Twitter is a breat business twool and should be used so accordingly. And if you are not using Twitter for your business yet, now is the time to ask youself why not! 

Enjoy.

Have you started using Twitter yet? If not why not? If you, are then you can follow me at @andyheadworth

Ten Ways to use Facebook to find a job

There are many tools out there in the social media space, and you could be confused by trying to cover all of them - especially if you have recently lost your job and need to find a new one. But for me it is about getting a balance with using a smaller number social media tools that stand the most chance of being effective AND suit you to engage with on a regular basis.
So for me they are LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogging and of course Facebook. This then gives you an even spread across the business focused LinkedIn, the immediacy and 'freshness of Twitter', the personal brand building of blogging and the social networking that is Facebook.

Up until recently Facebook has been the preserve of social networking only, with any overt activity on the job front being somewhat frowned upon. However, two things have changed that - the first being the recession and the need for many people to find new employment, and second, the sheer speed at which Facebook is growing globally - literally millions every week! So now individuals, companies and recruiters are becoming more focused on using Facebook, both from candidate searching and job finding perspective..

I have looked at how you can use Facebook in the most effective way to to help job seekers find a job, and recruiters find the job seeker - both of which are very important in the proactive part of the job marketplace.
So here are ten ways to use Facebook to find a job:

1. Don't forget the public nature of Facebook
While I am sure you do appreciate the public nature of information on the internet, don't forget that just because you are looking for a job. You must assume that everything you write is available for public consumption, and that means any future employers. Many companies now do some internet searching and check the validity of their future employees - yes I know they will all tell you they don't, but I can confidently tell you that's rubbish, they do!
So if you have a profile on LinkedIn and other sites, make sure they all tell the same story! Also make sure your details are all accurate. As I tell everyone, don't put anything on your online profile that you wouldn't want an employer to see.

2. Pimp your profile.
You need to ensure that you have a full profile, and that it reads akin to a CV or Resume.What you must remember is that when companies or recruiters are searching for candidates, they are 'conditioned' to view prospective candidates in a traditional way (right or wrong). So in the art of stating the obvious - give them what they expect.
It is important to highlight your assets and project an accurate representation of yourself. Make sure your education history is correct, with correct dates; your employment history need to be correct, again with correct dates - and just in case you think you can get away with changing the dates, don't even bother - it is very easy to check! ; list any volunteer work or work done through your degree (sandwich courses); check your group memberships  -you may want to remove some of the more 'seemed fun at the time' groups you joined - would you want an employer to see them?

My recent, 'Using Blogs, Twitter and Facebook to help grow your business' presentation to SME's

I was asked to present a workshop to SME's in the Worthing Chamber of Commerce, on the subject of using social media like Blogs, Twitter and Facebook to help them with growing their businesses.
It had obviously created a lot of interest because it was well attended, with business owners keen to understand how they could use social media in their everyday business.

This was an overview type of presentation on social media, particulalry blogs, Facebook and Twitter, but it does give a good idea of how you can use social media to benefit your business.

How To Use Blogs, Twitter And Facebook To Grow Your Business

View more presentations from Andy Headworth. (tags: twitter blogs)

If you would like any more information on this, or you need some help in trying to help you sell the idea of social media to your business, then email me and we can discuss it further.

The Ten Commandments for Job Seekers on Twitter

With so many companies and recruiters on Twitter, it is a great place for a job seeker to find a job. But there are some 'rules' that they need to be aware of to have a chance at maximising their chances of finding a job opportunity there.
Therefore I have put together my tips to help job seekers on Twitter, because after all, many job seekers arriving at Twitter, will probably be Twitter Virgins and trying to use every means at their disposal to find a new job.
So here are my Ten Commandments for Job Seekers on Twitter:

1. Understand Twitter and what it is about.
The best way to do this, is to take off your boots off, just dive in and have a good look around. See what other people are talking about, how they are talking and how they use the 140 character limit. Get a sense of the twitter sphere before you join in.
Spend some time looking at other people's bio's and how they present themselves. Then ask yourself a question - would YOU follow that person? have they got your interest? Take note of your thoughts - you will need to bear this in mind for yourself soon.

2. Create a quality Profile and Bio.
a) No cat or dog photos - just a good head shot image of yourself. It gives recruiters a good impression of you straight away.
b) Your URL - use your blog | website | LinkedIn profile. If you have none of these, create a LinkedIn profile ( Download LinkedIn for beginnersif you need a hand setting one up) . Don't put a profile up without a URL, because every serious job seeker will have some form of online profile, and you will lose the opportunity to get followed by the right people otherwise.
c) Your one line bio - you have 160 characters to sum up your career and what you are looking for. remember keywords from your industry. If you are actively looking for a job now - say so.
d) Background - go to TwitterGallery and choose a free background. It will be an extra way to help you stand out from other people.

Above all, be interesting - no-one will follow you if you have a boring profile and bio.

Facebook is used to recruit a UK World Champion

Facebook, is now being used more widely as a recruitment tool. A recent success story shows just how effective Facebook can actually be for recruitment.

The UK is not renowned for its huge numbers of bobsledder's, so when recruiting for new team members, some creativity was needed, highlighting  the skills needed rather than the experience - please take note employers!
The No 1 women's bobsleigh driver Nicola Minichello, was looking for answers. She knew that her team needed boosting with new talent to challenge for medals, but since it was not forthcoming, she started her own talent search......on Facebook.

From her initial search, she shortlisted twenty candidates, that she felt met her criteria  then she got emailing. Following, some communications and subsequent trials, they found an absolute star, in the name of Edinburgh long jumper Gillian Cooke. She was so good that she went straight into the No 1 team.

After a series of top 3 finishes in various World Cup races, they capped it all with a Gold Medal, by winning the recent Bobsleigh World Championships in Lake Placid in New York.

So if anyone says to you that you can't use Facebook, to successfully find very specific skills, then let this story be a great example of how good Facebook can be as a recruiting tool. 

Honestly, Social Media is not Voodoo or Black Magic!!

Following several conversations this week with new clients, I have come to the conclusion that some people in business believe that social media has been created in the land of voodoo and black magic!!

It isn't as if the people that I have been speaking to are the older generations, such as the boomers or late gen X'ers - their not! In fact they include some gen Y'ers!

Maybe they have a point?  (addictive, mind controlling social networks, that keep some people entranced for days - do you know what, maybe there is something in their ideas?)

Just to bring it back to reality for a moment....I just want to explain what I mean.

As you know, I help and advise companies on recruitment. I advise them on strategy, process, candidate attraction methods, etc etc. Obviously, social media has now come into this mix as well, in a big way, with things like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, social networks etc and helping them developing and incorporating a social media strategy into their recruitment has become very important.
Now, according to some people, this is where I obviously start turning into a voodoo high priest, casting spells on innocent people wanting to experience the world of social media!!

It seems that Twitter, blogs and particularly Facebook seem to be scaring off alot of people, and I think it is purely down to the level of engagement needed to make them a success. Time is people's worst enemy, and is the first thing people mention to me - I don't have time to do all that, to get involved and tweet to all my followers!
This is intriguing me, because even though the potential benefits of social media are great, there does also seem to be a big perceived downside before it evens gets started. Here are some of the negatives I have been exposed to this week alone:

1. Fear of the unknown
2. Lack of understanding of the technology (this does get overcome with some explanation)
3. Perceived time constraints
4. Media anti-hype issues (ie Facebook last year)
5. Fear of direct criticism

They are genuine objections, and need overcoming before a company (or individual) will even start to consider getting into social media.
Maybe acceptance will start to happen at a faster rate when these voodoo worshipers (sorry, I mean companies), start to see more of the big brands engaging with social media. Maybe they want to be social media lemmings and just play follow my leader?

As I say to all the companies I speak to about this subject, social media is here to stay - FACT!. It is fast becoming intrinsically linked to recruitment strategies, candidate attraction, employer branding, brand marketing and a whole lot more. The quicker companies start to listen, and take the time to learn and understand about it then the quicker they will ready to engage with their most important asset - their customers / job seekers.

Maybe I should drop the long black coat, top hat and skeleton necklace for my meetings in future? After all, Twitter isn't a voodoo spell...................... is it?