So one of the highlights of my career happened today when I got an email from my former director, Lori Kinney at imc2. As most of you know, I worked at imc2 for almost two years (recruited for them) and the last few months of my career there, I had the wonderful opportunity to work on getting imc2 up to date on social networking and recruiting. I’ve blogged before about the importance of using Twitter as a recruiter tool and it’s great to know my work with my awesome recruiting team has paid off. Lori was interviewed by the prestigious Ad Age about our efforts as one of the few ad agencies who began “twittering” about job openings with the company and also using other social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Pownce, etc) to recuit top-notch talent.

Lori sent me an email she sent to the VP of HR at imc2 and she was so wonderful in giving the “thanks” to me for spearheading the social networking piece for our recruiting team. It truly made me feel appreciated and valued… which comes as no surprise to those who know Lori as she truly is one of the best directors I have ever worked with.

Here’s the link to the Ad Age article and her interview with them on why it’s important to use social networking as a recruiter. I hope you enjoy it!

In episode 16, I talk about that “Olympics Song” that everyone is talking about and I tell you who sings it and where you can buy it! It’s truly moxtastic. Also, I’m using my new Canon ZR950 to tape the show and is it really true there’s a celebrity who just created their own social network? Sadly, it is true. Finally, we discuss a new digital camera that’s sure to make you wet as well as other moxie items!

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Moxie Mo Show - Episode 16 from Jeff McCord on Vimeo.

In this episode, a BIG announcement and partnership with fellow Twitter friend @tonychall. I also discuss some exciting news from Nokia and what they’re going to send me soon. Also, what do fish and feet have in common? You’ll find out very soon! Last but not least, I’m heading to Florida tomorrow and would love YOUR thoughts/comments/tips for anything related to Destin, FL! What else should I talk about on the show? Let me know… come on MOXIES, leave a comment or five!

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Moxie Mo Show: Episode 7 from Jeff McCord on Vimeo.

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?

I’ve had the wonderful opportunity these past few months to lead a group of coworkers in educating the company I work for in social networking and social media. Social networking has become a powerful medium for me. But what is the deal with social networking? Why are companies and individuals becoming so interested in this and what does social networking really mean?

I’m not an expert on social networking but what I am is someone who is actively involved in it. Wikipedia defines social networking as a social network for communities of people who share interests and activities or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. I like to define social networking as the foundation that attracts and holds like-minded individuals together. Social media, on the other hand, is the format or the substance that adds value to the foundation (social networks). The two go hand in hand but surprisingly to most “novices,” social media and social networking are not the same thing. One is a part of the other but both are separate in nature.

The best way I know how to write about these topics is to give my own personal story. As most of you know, I started this blog in late 2007. The reason I started my own blog was because I got involved in a few social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Friendfeed) and I became “friends” with so many unique and wonderful people that I instantly wanted more. So what better way to evolve than to create my own forum in my own social network: my personal blog. Some of the social networking sites that grabbed my attention then allowed me to share different forms of media (mainly videos) so that I could connect to the audience I wished to connect. It then snowballed when I got the opportunity to meet my two favorite podcasters, Neal Campbell and Cali Lewis and I got to be on The Neal Show a couple of times.

Like I wrote earlier, I also got the opportunity to get involved in social networking/social media with my employer, a top ten digital advertising agency here in Dallas. This new opportunity allowed me to formally educate myself on the newest and hottest trends in social networking. As most know, I’m a professional recruiter by day so I also got the opportunity to create some profile sites for the recruiting team I work with. I then decided that we could recruit top-notch talent by getting more and more involved in particular social networks and that’s been a great success not only in finding the people we want, but also getting our brand out to the world. And now I’m currently working a few freelance opportunities as well as getting the opportunity to be a weekly writer on CultureFeast.com! So social networking has literally changed my life in such a short amount of time.

So why is this important? Well, my friends, social networking is literally the way of the future. Whether is communicating daily to friends across the world on Twitter or uploading home videos on Vimeo or sending out your latest geotagged “what’s going on” on Brightkite, social networks and social media are here to stay! Also, don’t forget my post on why your reputation is SO important when it comes to social networking sites… for my post on Reputation 2.0, click here.

So tell me your story. What got you here to my blog? Do you know me on a social network? Did you find me from some of my personal social media? Let me know how you found me in the comments below!

Google recently announced a new service that will motivate any website owner into getting more involved in the social media realm. Google Friend Connect was made to socialize the internet for every-day users. Users will be able to add profile information, videos, photos and other great “widgets” on any website that uses their service. Even better, the website owner doesn’t even need to know programming since Google will have a wizard type set up to install this new service on to any website.

Why is this a big deal? In my opinion, this opens the playing field for the average blog site and even though we will never be competing directly with the MySpaces and Facebooks of the world, it at least gives us the chance to provide social networking and the fun that goes with it to our viewers.

According to e-Week, “the key to Friend Connect is ease of use. Google has built a wizard-like page where a Webmaster can enter the name of his or her site, choose applications from a Google application gallery, and cut and paste pieces of code right into the site.”

Once Google Friend Connect is launched to the masses, there will be more and more widgets available that will allow you, the viewer, to bring your friends with you on any website you want. Social networking will definitely be altered once this service launches, in my opinion.

What are your thoughts? If you own a blog/website, do you have interest in using this service? If so, why? Please leave a comment below!

If you’d like Google’s video introduction of their new service, Friend Connect, please click on the video below: