Social Networking: 6 Months Later
So from time time I will write a post relating to a new social network or the power of social networks. Social networking and social media have changed my life, in the last six months, in ways that I never imagined.
Social networking used to be known, simply, as Facebook or MySpace. Twitter came along in 2007 (but really became a hit this year) and that infrastructure began changing the way I communicate to people. It also widened my network of “friends” and these past six months, I’ve met some amazing people. The best way for me to explain this is through my own, personal story:
If you recall, I’ve written a few posts on specifically how social networking is changing the foundation in how we connect with others online. Whether it’s by finding a job with Twitter or interacting daily with people outside of your physical network, social networks are here to stay. Web 2.0 isn’t 2.0 without the social networking piece embedded into it. So, this post isn’t about me trying to persuade you that social networks are important; rather, it’s here to show you how it’s helped me in the past 6 months.
I’ve been awarded three part-time jobs thanks to my networking via Twitter, Plurk and blogging. I’m a guest writer on Culture Feast and PC Authorities. I’ve also had the opportunity to create corporations’ profiles on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Obviously, the extra income has been a pleasant surprise. I recently was interviewed by Brazen Careerist because I started my company’s first-ever recruiting approach using social networking and microblogs.
I’ve been a guest on The Neal Show and when I wrote about fixing Woopra on a Mac, Geekbrief’s Cali Lewis mentioned me on her show which caused my Woopra post to be one of the highest read posts I’ve ever written. I still get around 30 to 40 unique hits per day on that post which was written a few months ago! How did this happen? Luck had a part of it. Social networks had the rest. Twitter has some of the most amazing people I’ve ever had the chance of knowing. 99% of them are educated, interested in what you have to say and they will support you in almost anything you ask. I don’t find too much on other social networks. Plurk, Twitter’s first cousin, has that beginning support, but it’s not as strong as Twitter, in my opinion.
I’m also currently working with Tony C. Hall on a podcast that he and I will be publishing very soon. It’s all about microblogging and I really think it’s going to be a great success. I wouldn’t have had the chance of meeting Tony if it weren’t for social networking.
So, in my eyes, social networking and social media have changed my life in the last six months. Those that know me will know this blog post isn’t me bragging. On the contrary, it’s just showing those who may not “get” social networking’s power to understand how “little ol’ me” has blossomed in this wonderful world of technology. I may not be a Cali Lewis or a Michael Arrington, but I am Jeff McCord… and well, that’s just moxie to me! 
Share your story… how have social networks changed your life or your perspective in 2008?
Tags: blogging, GeekBrief.TV, Me, opinion, Social Media, Social Networking
June 21st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
A few times in life there are changes that re-route the direction your life is going. People enter or leave the stage, events occur, and life takes a turn, sometimes sudden, sometimes so gradual that you can’t see it for several months, but looking back, it’s obvious what happened, where and when. Discovering the social component of the Internet was one of those experiences for me. My first social network was GeekBrief.TV. Some might say that’s not a social network, but I think any site that collects comments and stimulates conversation among a large group of people with similar interests has the potential to be just that, regardless of its original purpose. From there I moved on to following Cali on Twitter, mainly so I could know when they were going live, in the days when she and Neal were first playing with Ustream. My web of connections on Twitter expanded and now I use it constantly. The same day you bought a Mac, I launched my first blog, GadgetyTech. Momentous day, huh? Now I’m looking into ways to move into this world professionally, as it’s what I think about in every waking moment. I might as well work in it. So yes, a bit of impact on my life.
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:21 am
I was one of those naysayers about social networks. I’ve had a profile on Ryze and Linked In for years before I did a thing with them. Too busy to figure out how to leverage the power of the online world. On the ground, face-to-face networking and connecting people are my passions as well as give me my professional edge.
And then one day, a former client, invited to connect with me on Linked In. She was not the type of person I would expect to “waste her time” by playing around with a frivolous experiment. She is a super-smart exec on a rising arc of success in her field. I accepted the invitation to connect and started to really see what was happening with social networking. Wow.
Over the last year, not only have I been heavily participating on a variety of sites (visit me on Twitter, Linked In, Facebook, etc.) I have been teaching my clients how to use these sites to improve their business results.
And through all of this, a light bulb went on over my head and unexpectedly I identified a powerful opportunity and will shortly launch my own new business venture with a whole new twist on the social networking model. The application will be relevant for almost all business arenas. I am blogging about all of the newest occurrences in the social networking field and want to be a force for inspiring people to get on this amazing ride. (www.sociabling.blogspot.com if anyone wants to check it out and add to it)
This has taken my career into an entirely new direction, one that I believe will open up unimaginable opportunities for many people.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
@davepeterson – I know my life has been richly blessed by Cali and Neal… and I’m very glad to have received the opportunity to have met you as well. Like I say all the time, you’re fantastic Dave!
@nancy fox – thanks for the post. I, too, use LinkedIn all the time (I’m a recruiter by profession) and it’s a powerful networking tool. I’m glad to see the light bulb has come on for you and your new venture. I’ll definitely check it out!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Congrats on the success so far … keep it up!