In doing some research via online anthropology for one of my clients, I stumbled upon the online "networker" archetype (you know, the guy that has a social presence almost everywhere you can link to) and realized that creating one's social media presence is serious business, for some. Moreover, it also made me understand that these social media "networkers" create more than a presence, they're creating a social media footprint, which leaves a much longer and lasting impression.
So I ask, what does your online social media footprint look like?
If you haven't thought of your FB or Linkedin pages as such, let me tell you now, it's a beginning. How far you want to take it... the possibilities are potentially limitless.
If creating a social media footprint is important for you or your business, or your clients for that matter, here are some suggestions to create a stronger imprint.
1. If you haven't already, set up a Facebook page and let the world know you're still alive.
2. If you're a professional, freelancer, (interested in working) - Linkedin.com is a must
3. Start to tweet - talk about actually getting people to know you, they'll also follow you!
4. Social bookmarks are a great exchange of social and intellectual capital - sharing your cool finds and areas of interests, ex. digg or delicious or StumbleUpon
5. You may have a Kodakgallery or Shutterfly but try Flickr and join and contribute to like minded groups of your eye's view seen through you photo uploads
Now those are pretty basic these days (for some), but here's some more that also will give your footprint the visual tracks that others' may want to follow more closely.
6. Read blogs that you want to be associated with and COMMENT - sounds too easy - it is!
7. Taking it a step further, blog yourself (and btw, you can have more than one blog on various free blog sites like this one and tailor your blogs around a speciality or specific focus or a specific audience
8. Leverage your Twitter and FB with your blog or links to your postings
9. Join groups or forums and post your affiliations
10. Really take the lead and start your own networking site on ning.com (create your own topic)
11. Write you own post or article as a guest writer, hint: Huffingtonpost.com
12. Become a commenter when needed by signing up with Helpareporter.com - they may just need your expert advice or experience
Well hope this posting inspired your socialness to spread and leave the web a better place.
Must sign off now and go make my footprint about this post on FB :).
If you have any other suggestions or want to share your print-ability, do tell.
Cheers
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Are You Tweeting?
Recently through a Twitter algorithm, my 13 tweets were distilled down into twitter time. The result of my tweeting expenditure tallied up to 390 seconds or 7 minutes! I've ONLY spent 7 minutes tweeting?! Surprise was soon followed by disappointment. The amount of time I spend on Twitter is 1000x more, so to boil it all down to ONLY 7 minutes, I felt belittled. All I had to show for the energy, the interest and the pontification I've put into my tweets was 7 minutes?? Now if that's not perspective for you, specifically re: tweeting, then I'll make it more obvious. Tweeting clearly and shouldn't be regarded as a big deal. Tweeting is just that - tweeting - for only a few seconds each time. Tweeting is simple. There are no rules to tweeting. You can tweet whatever it is you want to tweet about from the ordinary to the extraordinary. And, by the way, there's no brownie points for the extraordinary or judgment calls to distinguish between the two. In fact, tweeting or being on the receiving end of someones tweet that clearly answers the question of what you or they're doing right now can be fascinating! I realized this after I read one of the Zappo's CEO tweets about one of his observations of ordinary life happening while walking in the airport. His tweet captured a moment in time, nothing more. Telling me and many of this followers that tweeting does not have to live up to any preconceived standard of what we all think the world wants to hear about. Assuming we know what's best to please others' only creates performance anxiety and procrastination, resulting in tweetlessness. Tweetlessness can lead to other negative effects bc it means we've missed out knowing so and so has been wearing the same socks for 2-days. Although it may seem there's nothing to learn from knowing that - for you, there may be for someone else or it may just bring joy, peace of mind to know that you're not the only one hasn't brushed their hair all weekend. If you don't believe me, and still think you need to post interesting links, or profound statements of proven value, then believe John Scalzi, an accomplished twitterer who was quoted in the WSJ substantiating the fact that it's okay to tweet for tweet's sake. "People just want some whimsy (tweet) or just want to know what you're doing." Mr. Scalzi has 3,380 followers and often can be found tweeting about his cats.
So tweet-it-up tweeties and find the joy. The world wants to hear.
So tweet-it-up tweeties and find the joy. The world wants to hear.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Wedgie. Why? Find Out!
I know, I know... why in the world would I write about a wedgie? Because it's one of my favoirte conversations? Because I think it's funny as all hell? Because I live among locker room mentality? (You're getting close). I write because my husband and now my sons are part of the Wedgey Dojo club - http://www.wedgeydojo.com/ (mind you, this is run by adult men and btw, its not their intent to cause harm or bully, it's only to say, "I got ya."). Why, who, how does something like this start and become filled with an unstoppable life force? Hence my question, is this normal?
Sitting at the dinner table tonight with my two sons and hubby, the conversation somehow turns from talking about their school day to the various types of wedgies to then my sons brainstorming to come up with new name wedgies. How my 8 and 6 year old know so much about wedgies at those ages makes me realize all the more there's something different in the male wiring. I did think I should stop this indulgence of wasted airtime. If I had daughters instead, we would never talk about anything so ridiculous! And then I thought how genderly judgemental I am. Would I really want to be sitting around a table all the time talking about feelings, dresses, body fat and boys? (Sorry, if I'm offending anyone by the stereotypical remarks). No, not all the time. But do I really want to stay on this topic? No! And then, I began to appreciate their knowledge and the art of the wedgie. So to enlighten you, as I was, here are a few bits about the wedgie for any of you outright enthusiasts or slightly curious minds. To begin, here's Wikipedia's definition:
A wedgie (also known as a snuggie, grundie, gotch pull, or mervin) is having one's underwear or other garments "wedged" between the buttocks. This can occur naturally, due to tight garments or physical activity; this is referred to as the underwear "riding up". It can also be performed as a prank or as a form of bullying; this is referred to as "giving (a person) a wedgie." Wedgies are commonly featured in popular culture works, either as a form of low comedy or as a behavior representative of bullying. BTW, wedgies have been part of Seinfield and featured in several popular movies.
Wait no more, here are some examples of types of wedgies:
The Melvin is a variant of the wedgie in which the victim's underwear is pulled up from the front.
The atomic wedgie entails hoisting the rear waistband of the receiver's underwear up and over their head.
The hanging wedgie is a variant in which the victim is hung from his underwear, elevated above the ground.
The Meat Locker wedgie (spawned from my 8-year old) is similar to the hanging wedgie, hung from his underwear by a hook.
The elevator pitch is when you give a guy a wedgie in an elevator and then when the doors open you hoist him or should I say pitch him out.
The Texas wedgie is when you give a wedgie and then you drop a match thus giving him a hot butt.
My sons' contributions:
The Nedgie is when you go to grab for the underwear but to the wedger's surprise there is no underwear so instead you wedge the pants. There is a risk if to grab on to the belt loops as it may rip it off.
The Yo Yo wedgie is when you grab the underwear and instead of pulling up to pull back, then you release, and then pull back again, then release and keep repeating.
The Twister is when you grab the underwear and start swinging your arm around in a twisting or circular motion.
Now in case this is read by the wrong person. Here are some defensive moves you should be aware of:
Berlin Wall is when you are the last one to enter into a taxi, you put your briefcase down on a seat, thereby creating a barrier between you and the potential wedger next to you.
The Crab is when you hug the wall sidestepping out of harm's way.
The Dipolmat is when you walk around the room with you hands clasped behind you back, thereby creating an immediate barrier to the underwear waistband.
If you have any wedgie stories, information or want to share how the wedgie is just a normal part of your daily life, please do tell and I'll make sure the board members of the WedgeyDojo hear about it. And remember, be careful. You never know if there's a wedger in the crowd.
Sitting at the dinner table tonight with my two sons and hubby, the conversation somehow turns from talking about their school day to the various types of wedgies to then my sons brainstorming to come up with new name wedgies. How my 8 and 6 year old know so much about wedgies at those ages makes me realize all the more there's something different in the male wiring. I did think I should stop this indulgence of wasted airtime. If I had daughters instead, we would never talk about anything so ridiculous! And then I thought how genderly judgemental I am. Would I really want to be sitting around a table all the time talking about feelings, dresses, body fat and boys? (Sorry, if I'm offending anyone by the stereotypical remarks). No, not all the time. But do I really want to stay on this topic? No! And then, I began to appreciate their knowledge and the art of the wedgie. So to enlighten you, as I was, here are a few bits about the wedgie for any of you outright enthusiasts or slightly curious minds. To begin, here's Wikipedia's definition:
A wedgie (also known as a snuggie, grundie, gotch pull, or mervin) is having one's underwear or other garments "wedged" between the buttocks. This can occur naturally, due to tight garments or physical activity; this is referred to as the underwear "riding up". It can also be performed as a prank or as a form of bullying; this is referred to as "giving (a person) a wedgie." Wedgies are commonly featured in popular culture works, either as a form of low comedy or as a behavior representative of bullying. BTW, wedgies have been part of Seinfield and featured in several popular movies.
Wait no more, here are some examples of types of wedgies:
The Melvin is a variant of the wedgie in which the victim's underwear is pulled up from the front.
The atomic wedgie entails hoisting the rear waistband of the receiver's underwear up and over their head.
The hanging wedgie is a variant in which the victim is hung from his underwear, elevated above the ground.
The Meat Locker wedgie (spawned from my 8-year old) is similar to the hanging wedgie, hung from his underwear by a hook.
The elevator pitch is when you give a guy a wedgie in an elevator and then when the doors open you hoist him or should I say pitch him out.
The Texas wedgie is when you give a wedgie and then you drop a match thus giving him a hot butt.
My sons' contributions:
The Nedgie is when you go to grab for the underwear but to the wedger's surprise there is no underwear so instead you wedge the pants. There is a risk if to grab on to the belt loops as it may rip it off.
The Yo Yo wedgie is when you grab the underwear and instead of pulling up to pull back, then you release, and then pull back again, then release and keep repeating.
The Twister is when you grab the underwear and start swinging your arm around in a twisting or circular motion.
Now in case this is read by the wrong person. Here are some defensive moves you should be aware of:
Berlin Wall is when you are the last one to enter into a taxi, you put your briefcase down on a seat, thereby creating a barrier between you and the potential wedger next to you.
The Crab is when you hug the wall sidestepping out of harm's way.
The Dipolmat is when you walk around the room with you hands clasped behind you back, thereby creating an immediate barrier to the underwear waistband.
If you have any wedgie stories, information or want to share how the wedgie is just a normal part of your daily life, please do tell and I'll make sure the board members of the WedgeyDojo hear about it. And remember, be careful. You never know if there's a wedger in the crowd.
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