2014 A&WMA
Leadership Training Academy
Networking through Social Media
P r e s e n t e d By:
Diane Freeman
Associate, Conestoga-Rovers
& Associates Ltd.
Agenda
1.0 What is Social Media and why is
it important?
2.0 How can you use it?
3.0 Social Media outlets/channels
3.1 Twitter
3.2 LinkedIn
3.3 Facebook
3.4 Youtube
3.5 Blogging
4.0 Do’s and Don’ts of Social Media
5.0 Questions
1.0 What is Social Media?
… “means of
interactions among
people in which they
create, share, and
exchange information
and ideas in virtual
communities and
networks” –Wikipedia
Photo source: socialmediainbusiness.com
1.0 Why is Social Media important?
“Resistance to
change and lack
of social media
understanding
among senior
leaders is stifling
innovation and
transparency in
UK
organisations,
says research by
CIPD” – HRM
online
“CEOs who use social
media are growing their
businesses, attracting
lifelong customers,
generating exposure for
their companies and
closing new deals. As
customers become more
social media savvy, so
must company leaders”
– Josh James, CEO of
Domo
“A&WMA YPAC is
working on its own social
media strategy, with the
aim of expanding and
refining the way that the
various Web-based
platforms can help fulfill
its mission” – EM-yp
Perspective – Robin
Devillers
1.0 Why is Social Media
Important?
• It is the way of “now”
not the future or the
past, but now
• People are forging
strong business and
personal
relationships
through social media
• Job recruitment is
actively tied to social
media
Source: http://bootcampdigital.com/about/why-socialmedia/
2.0 How can you use it?
• Build Section/Chapter Awareness
• Be viewed as an Industry Leader
• Showcase Section/Chapter Events
• Volunteer Recruitment
Engagement
• Network with other members
• Increase traffic to
Section/Chapter website
3.1 Twitter
What is Twitter?
“An online social networking
service and micro-blogging
service that enables its users to
send and read text-based
messages of up to 140
characters, known as "tweets"”
– Wikipedia
3.1 Twitter – A New Language
• Text-based posts of up to 140
characters displayed on the author’s
profile page and delivered to the
author’s subscribers known as
“followers”
• Handle – refers to your username
which always prefixed with a @ symbol
Example: @dianelfreeman
• Hashtags – a word or phrase
prefixed with a # (which groups
messages together)
– can search for topics using
hashtags
Example: #ACE2013, #engineering,
3.1 Twitter – How can you use it?
Twitter Tactics:
• Showcase Section/Chapter
Events services and
achievements
• Industry-related notifications
• Volunteer Recruitment
Engagement
• event happenings and
achievements
• Increase visibility at
conferences
• Build relationships and
Network
3.1 Twitter – How can you use it?
• Create a professional Twitter
handle (example
@DianeLFreeman or
@a&wmaOntSection)
• Choose people/companies
to follow
• Track conversations
• Search and retweet some trending
hashtags (Example: #engineering;
#emergencymanagement;
#OilandGas)
3.1 Twitter – How can YOU use it?
• Tweet at people!
• Use Conference “hashtags” to
tweet and retweet your
involvement (example
#AMO2013; #AHMP2013)
• Contribute to and retweet
Tweets
• Tweet interesting facts
about A&WMA and our
industry
3.2 LinkedIn
What is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a
professional networking
website geared towards
companies and industry
professionals looking to
make new business
contacts or keep in
touch with previous
co-workers, affiliates
and clients.
3.2 LinkedIn – How can you use it?
• Largest professional
network with over
238 million members
- huge recruitment tool
• Allows Sections and
Chapters to showcase
events and
achievements
• Build A&WMA Brand
Awareness
• Stay connected (with
employees and industry
professionals)
• Post local news articles
3.2 LinkedIn – How can YOU use it?
• As an A&WMA Volunteef Be
sure your profile showcases your
accomplishments, skills and
connection to A&WMA
• A place to market yourself,
connect with co-workers, find
former colleagues, and link-up
with like-minded people
• Keep profile up-to-date
• Keep images professional
• Connect with other industry
professionals
• Join A&WMA Linked in Group
3.3 Facebook
What is Facebook?
Facebook is a website
that enables groups and
individuals to develop
social networks with
other groups and
individuals in order to
share information and
communicate with each
other.
3.3 Facebook – How can you use it?
• Invite people to be your
“friend”
• “Like” others and share
comments on posts,
pictures
• Share good news
information about work
and family
• link your status to other
social media sites such as
Twitter
• Provide encouragement
and kind comments on
the status of other friends
and employees
3.4 Youtube
What is Youtube?
Youtube is a video
sharing website that
enables individuals
and groups to easily
upload and share video
with viewers around
the world. You can
create customized
“channels” with unique
content which others
can “subscribe” to.
3.4 Youtube – How can you use it?
• Stay connected to what’s going on in
the industry
• Subscribe to clients and competitors to
see what they are talking about
• Share videos you think are of interest
3.5 Blog
“…The word blog is
a short form of “web
log“. That means a
blog is a website/
journal or a
dairy which is
indented
to present/publish
information/person
al ideas regularly…”
Techgainer.com
Photo Source: Techgainer.com
3.5 Blog – How can you Use it
• Setting up can be free
• Write about things you are
passionate about
• Link Blog articles to your
other social media sites
• Show passion in writing
• Tweet out link to new blog
• Include photos
• Link blog in Facebook
• Keep writing weekly if
possible
3.5 Blog – User Tips
• Some Free Blog Sites:
• Blogger.com
• Wordpress.com
• Tumblr.com
• LiveJournal.com
• Xanga.com
4.0 Do’s of Social Media…
• DO maintain your
accounts. Update
frequently
• DO share articles, videos,
blog posts and other
useful content
• DO promote yourself.
Share your
accomplishments
• DO engage your peers,
both current and future
Source: Debra Donston-Miller covers work-life issues
and difficult job-search situations for TheLadders.com
Photo source: theibisnetworkblog.com
4.0 Do’s of Social Media…
• DO remember whom you are
"talking" to. On Facebook, for
example, you are sharing
information with everyone that
you have added as a friend. On
Twitter you are sharing
information with everyone…
period. Twitter is a public network
• DO understand your privacy
settings
• DO make sure you are interacting
in trusted communities
Source: Debra Donston-Miller covers work-life issues
and difficult job-search situations for TheLadders.com
Photo source: cyberchatter.com.au
4.0 Don’ts of Social Media…
Remember everything is public and traceable.
DON’T vent your frustrations, bully, use foul language
or post information you do not want people to see.
“It’s easy to forget the public nature of
the internet – your boss doesn’t follow
you on Twitter, so who cares if you
tweet a message of hate, or a casual
threat? … public messages mean
anyone could see them, including
bosses.
Most people seem to be unaware that,
on the internet, once said, you can
never take it back.” – HRM Online
Photo source: designandpromote.com
4.0 Don’ts of Social Media…
• DON'T share too much
information (TMI), especially
information of a personal nature
• DON'T neglect to proofread
your social media posts as
carefully as you would your
resume
• DON'T forget that people may
have a different sense of humor
Source: Debra Donston-Miller covers work-life issues
and difficult job-search situations for TheLadders.com
Photo source: soshable.com
5.0 Questions
Diane Freeman, P.Eng., FEC
Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Ltd.
651 Colby Drive
Waterloo, ON Canada
N2V 1C2
Tel: 519-884-0510
Email:dfreeman@craworld.com
Twitter:@dianelfreeman
Blog: dianelfreeman.wordpress.com