Social Media Solutions by Travis Hodges

Are You Wasting Your Time on Social Media?

2010-08-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

We all know social media can be a powerful tool in the facilitation of conversation with customers, but could it also be a waste of your time? There is so much information floating around out there that it can be almost overwhelming, and a huge sinkhole for our valuable time. But, do not worry. Here are some pitfalls to avoid when engaging with social media:

Following too many blogs
I recommend subscribing to blogs that are relevant to your industry. However, be picky in the selection of which feeds to follow. Following a blog will do no good if you do not have the time to read it. It would be a good idea to set a timer and read no longer than you allow yourself. This will prevent sinking too much time in reading feeds and will allow your time to be better spend by responding to posts and engaging in conversations.

Reading every tweet, every Facebook post, and every other status update
Along the same idea as following too many blogs, there is just WAY too much content out there for anyone to keep up with. Follow people because they have something valuable to say, but once you begin following a crowd, it becomes difficult to read every single post. Don't feel guilty if you miss some posts, many are duplicates and no one can possibly know everything going on at any given time. I would advise making a favorites list or group to ensure you can catch everything from the most relevant people.

Following or friending too many people that are not a part of your community
Just because you receive a request does not mean you necessarily have to accept it. If you will not receive any benefit from the connection, why make it? Too many friends/followers will not provide you greater stats, it will eventually raise the question of whether you are spamming social media networks. Again, be picky and don't let anyone that is not relevant to your business or industry take up too much of your valuable time.

Checking social media networks too often
Some people I know try to constantly check their social media account to keep themselves up to date. This is not a useful endeavor. It is a huge waste of time. Instead, block off about half an hour for yourself to spend reading and replying to social media. Resist the urge to check up on your accounts every hour and use the time saved to create original content of your own.

Getting over involved in too many social media sites
Keep it to the most relevant sites to your immediate fan base. I would advise Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and blogs or forums. Beyond that, only join a network if it is industry specific and extremely popular within your industry. Do not be afraid to ask your customers where they spend time online and do not be afraid to try something new. Give your new ideas time to see if it works, and then change your strategy if you find it is not suiting your needs.

Social media is a great resource, but it can be a huge sinkhole for your priceless time. Follow these tips to save yourself time and gain the most social media has to offer you and your company.

How to Get Your Business Found in Google Local Search

2010-07-30T14:35:00.000-04:00

Ever typed a business name or category into Google and saw a list of Google Maps results and their corresponding addresses plotted on a map? Well, that would be Google Places, a great feature of that allows businesses to list their addresses on Google Maps and be found when someone does a Google search for your industry near your location.

So how can you get your business to come up on a map in search results? EASY! Just list your business with in Google Places. Log in with your Google account (or you can create one), then follow the instructions to list your business. The important thing to remember here is that you want to be found in Google's local search, so you MUST list a local phone number. An 800 or 900 number will not work because these numbers do not have a local area code. Thus, you should list your local number to ensure you get the results you are looking for.

This is a great feature of Google, and an excellent tool for businesses because these results are front and center in search results and offer customers a visual of your location. This is essentially free advertisement in search results. Get your business listed today!

Oldest Twitter User Passes at 104

2010-07-29T13:31:00.002-04:00

Ivy Bean, thought to be the oldest Twitter user, passed away July 28th in her care home in a small English town at the incredible age of 104.

Bean was very popular on Twitter, boasting more than 56,000 at the time of her death. She had tweeted over 1000 times and was also an avid Facebook user (which she joined at the ripe age of 102).

The news of her death was posted on Bean's Twitter account (@IvyBean104), which had been informing followers about Bean's deteriorating condition over the past few days.

The post reads:

Ivy passed away peacefully at 12:08 this morning...I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you but it was a very difficult thing to do.

Mrs. Bean shows us that social media knows no bounds. Networks such as Facebook and Twitter are open to anyone and everyone that wish to participate. You will be missed, Ivy.

How to Help Yourself with Yelp

2010-07-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

These days most customers are either reading and/or writing online reviews for just about every business out there. Before buying a car, they may research the dealership. Before hiring a mover, they may check for reviews online. And, believe me they are going online and posting reviews if they feel ripped off or cheated.

As a result, services such as Yelp have become an important factor in the decision making process of consumers. What does this mean for you? It means a few things, actually.

First, your business should be on Yelp. Yelp allows businesses to create listings with the information necessary for consumers to find you. You can 'claim' your business to add phone numbers, store hours, menus, product offerins, etc. I would advise claiming your business and adding as much information as possible so potential customers are able to easily find you.

Also, stay on top of what customers are saying about your business online. If a customer posts an irate review that is full of errors or false information, Yelp allows business owners to dispute a review. Be sure to keep tabs of what customers are saying about you, then use the information to better yourself. If the reviews are untrue, dispute them and have them removed. You ultimately need to tap into what your customers think of your business, and Yelp is one of the places where people are really talking.

When Blogging, Avoid PR and Marketing

2010-07-20T14:13:00.000-04:00

I know this sounds contrary to the goals you have for online marketing, but trust me. A blog that gives viewers information rather than attempting to sell them something will do wonders for both your image and your sales.

If you are maintaining your blog correctly, it should become a repository of analysis, opinions, tips, and tools that are provided by your company for the benefit of your customers. The insight and expertise that this type of blog can demonstrate is far more useful than any PR pitch or marketing stunt.

Avoid trying to sell your readers in your blog, this is not the place. Add information that provides value to your readers. Remember that your knowledge and opinions are priceless to your customers. If you don't have an opinion on a certain topic, feel free to poll your readers and get a feel for the view of your community.

Remember that blogging is your chance to take your mind off of marketing. Do this, and you will realize that the analysis you provide will sell your company better than any press release ever could.

QR Codes Now Appearing on Sanitation Trucks

2010-07-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

QR codes now appear on roughly 2200 New York City Department of Sanitation trucks. The QR codes pull up instructional videos that tell residents how to recycle.

Proving that QR codes may be the way consumers initially interact with companies in the future, the NYC Sanitation Department is leading the way with this public outreach effort.

Didn't I tell you yesterday this technology was going to be big?

Calvin Klein Replacing Racy Billboards with QR Codes

2010-07-14T11:33:00.000-04:00

Calvin Klein billboard with QR code

Calvin Klein has replaced two of its billboards in New York and one in Los Angeles with a bright red QR code rather than another racy image of scantily clad models.

QR (short for quick response) codes are barcodes that can be scanned with a smartphone camera and then used to pull up special features or additional advertisements. The code in the Calvin Klein

Previous Calvin Klein billboard

billboards links to an exclusive "uncensored" commercial followed by links to share the ad with Facebook and Twitter.

These codes are appearing more frequently in traditional advertising in an effort to increase consumer engagement with brands. This is an up and coming trend that is already popular in Japan and should be watched carefully by small businesses. It may prove worthwhile to invest in this technology and include your own QR code in future advertisements. The more consumers interact with your brand, the more likely they are to associate with and ultimately stick with the brand.

Connect with Travis on Facebook!

2010-07-09T11:47:00.001-04:00

Since I have my personal Facebook profile locked, as I have advised you to do as well, I was hearing complaints that clients and contacts wanted to interact with me via Facebook but were unable. Well, problem solved!

I have created a Facebook Page (just like your business should have!) to allow any and everyone to connect with me and ask any questions they may have via Facebook.

So if you enjoy the blog, enjoy my tweets, or just enjoy making my acquaintance...please 'like' me on Facebook.

Trends in Social Media: Mobile Ads

2010-07-09T09:00:00.006-04:00

Due to the trend towards location based social media and mobile interaction, advertisers are trying their best to take advantage of this new ability to reach consumers at the most critical moment: the moment they make an in-store purchase.

Major players such as Google and Apple are creating mobile ad agencies and many applications now include mobile ads. Small businesses should monitor this trend as it progresses, and get in on the ground floor of advertising to their customers when it is most relevant, when they are in or near your location.

Trends in Social Media: Location, Location, Location

2010-07-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Twitter allows location based tweets, and allows searching by location. Facebook has announced intentions to support location information. Mobile social media apps such as Foursquare and Gowalla are becoming popular for letting others know your whereabouts. And Google has been using location information to personalize your search experience for some time now.

This trend toward an emphasis on location is great news for businesses as many are catered to local clientele. Small businesses should look into adding themselves to these services and offering discounts to customers that 'check in' most often.

Trends in Social Media: Mobile Payments

2010-07-06T13:40:00.002-04:00

Although the idea of mobile payments is relatively new in the United States, the developing world has been rapidly adopting these services for some time now. Add the recent interest in the States to the fact that major players like Visa are pushing toward mobile payments and companies like PayPal already have mobile payment apps for iPhone, Blackberry, and Andriod phones, and what do you have?

You have a shift towards mobile payment systems, thats what. Being able to make and take payments directly from your mobile phone is the latest trend and going to be the way of the future of commerce. Small business owners are going to want to keep a close eye on this!

How Companies Should Respond to Online Reviews

2010-07-01T19:47:00.002-04:00

Customer review sites such as Yelp and Epinions allow customers to post reviews of companies and the products or services they offer. Of course, it goes without saying that some of these reviews are less than shining and this could reflect negatively upon a company. Let's be honest, one eloquent negative review could ruin a small business.

So what do you do? Well, Yelp allows businesses to respond to the negative reviews and an up-and-coming startup called Pley will provide a forum for business owners to review customers. However, when responding to customer reviews, there are some rules you must follow in order to reverse negative publicity.

When should you respond?
-If you genuinely need to make amends for a mistake
-When the customer is missing the facts (or has incorrect information)
-When the review develops legs and many are responding with similar opinions
-If the customer is angry with you, and not just his/her own life (or business in general)
-When someone reads the review and is offended for you

How should you respond?
-Listen to what customers are saying
-Be honest and open in your response
-Remain calm and do not attack the customer
-Speak like a human being and avoid industry jargon
-Promise to be better in the future

Think you can do it? Try it out!

Spotlight: Drum Marketing

2010-06-30T16:13:00.000-04:00

Maximizing resources. Connecting with customers. Interacting with the media. These are some of the challenges facing companies today. Drum Marketing is a unique network of PR and Marketing executives that have joined forces to provide clients with innovative, high quality PR & marketing deliverables.
Our seasoned consultants come from the world's top agencies.

Drum Marketing is an innovative marketing and public relations consulting group based in New York. Drum's unique approach to marketing and public relations caters to startup companies penetrating the market, and to established businesses who simply want to avoid lengthy commitments and monthly retainers.

Through an extensive network of freelance writers, designers and PR practitioners, Drum offers a wide array of marketing and public relations solutions that complement its clients' sales and business development platforms.

Drum Marketing includes an expert network made up of communications specialists from all aspects of the public relations, marketing and advertising fields. The members of this network are individuals who help Drum offer just the right team to serve their clients' needs.

Happy Social Media Day!

2010-06-30T15:16:00.000-04:00

Social media has come a very long way in a short amount of time, so it's time to celebrate! Social networks have revolutionized the way we communicate and interact online with our friends and families as well as our favorite brands and celebrities.

In honor of Social Media Day, I am asking you to post a comment with any question you may have. I will answer any question you have, so don't be afraid to ask!

If You're Using Social Media, You're Doing It Wrong

2010-06-29T16:08:00.002-04:00

If you or your company is using social media to communicate with customers, clients, or other professionals,

You are following way too many people on Twitter
You have added people on LinkedIn that you don't know very well
You have ads on your blog
You don't allow comments on your blog
Your blog posts are too short / too long
You are using partial RSS feeds
You have cursed or sworn online
You shoot long videos and never edit
You don't follow people back on Twitter
You aren't using APIs
You are using APIs
You push the same updates across all platforms
You don't use Creative Commons

You are doing it all wrong! We are all doing it all wrong. We each are doing it our own way and it doesn't match our conception of what works best. But that's life, and we will all get there somehow.

BC Proclaims June 30 to be Social Media Day

2010-06-29T15:40:00.000-04:00

The capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, has officially declaired June 30th Social Media Day.

Here is a photo of the signed proclamation:

What will you do to celebrate?

Facebook Becoming a Prime Source in Divorce Courts

2010-06-29T15:14:00.000-04:00

According to a report from the Associated Press, social networks are new favorite source of evidence for divorce attorneys. Forget proposing on Twitter or updated your Facebook status at the altar, when things turn sour, you had better unfriend that person you were "in a relationship with" on your profile.

There have been cases where parents have lost custody because they were playing FarmVille while they claimed to be spending time with their children. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers says about 81% of its members have either dealt with or used evidence from social media sources. In fact, judges are allowing social media evidence in court proceedings because the over-sharing occurring on social networks provides a wealth of information about our dating habits, party habits, attitudes, and financial status.

What do you think? Should social media evidence be allowed in court? Whatever you think, people should be more careful about what they are posting online and with whom they are sharing their social accounts.

Calling All Social Media & Twitter Experts!

2010-05-09T19:04:00.004-04:00

As I have already announced, I am in the process of writing a guide to using Twitter for professional writing.

Within the book I would love to include some expert advice. If you are social media savvy and think you've got a great idea or quote, send it my way and if it's what I am looking for, I will quote you in the book!

I am looking to answer the following in the book:

How do you best express yourself with this tool?

How can you sum up big points with just 140 characters?

How do you bring clarity and focus and engage your followers/readers?

What's annoying, and what's effective?

What acronyms and shorthand phrases are acceptable?

What are the etiquette rules for tweets?

If you've got the answer, or any other ideas, please click to CONTACT ME.

I'm Going to Write a Book About Twitter

2010-05-09T18:15:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine has asked me to write a book for him, and I think I am going to do it!

The concept will be a sort of how-to book for Twitter. It will be full of advice on how to express yourself using this powerful tool. The idea is to offer a guide for professions that want to use Twitter.

Any thoughts? Opinions? Ideas?

How Small Companies Can Engage Reporters Using Social Media (Social Network)

2010-04-30T14:57:00.000-04:00

If you have news or information that you want to get out, be sure to distribute it through your social networks. Of course it is important not to forget your followers that have been with you from the beginning, so after issuing a press release, be sure to post about the news on all of your social media accounts for all of your followers to see.

Post the release in your online press area, then write a blog post linking to the release, create a Facebook post and link, and tweet about your announcement. This will allow followers to stay up to date, and may even earn you a few new followers (or better yet, customers!).

Find Social Media Solutions Helpful? Give Back to #SMS Blog

2010-04-22T00:39:00.002-04:00

How Small Companies Can Engage Reporters Using Social Media (Blog)

2010-04-22T00:17:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Part II of Social Media Solutions' "How Small Companies Can Engage Reporters Using Social Media" Series...Be sure to check out Part I of the series about Public Relations strategies for your small business. And for today's topic: Blogging!

I know I have said this before, but it is worth repeating...a thousand times: THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BREAK INTO SOCIAL MEDIA IS THROUGH BLOGGING!

Okay, sorry for the caps lock, but this is a very important point. Every small business that hopes to begin a social media campaign should start a blog. And why wouldn't you? It's free PR!

Use your blog to post relevant information about your company, your products, the category in which you operate, or industry news. The blog is for smaller announcements that don't require a press release but are worthy of being published. Your blog should offer both reporters, customers, and the general public a more informal and personal voice from your company. Use the blog to talk to your customers, offer them news and incentives for staying to date on your posts, and encourage them to comment and communicate with you through the blog.

Also, a blog is best hosted on your main site, but if this is not possible, there are many free solutions out there. Just be sure to link to the blog on your homepage and always always promote your blog posts with Facebook and Twitter! See? Facebook and Twitter content without any added effort...feeling pretty social media savvy yet?

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to use the Contact Travis form at the top of this page, email me at travis@travishodges.net.

How Small Companies Can Engage Reporters Using Social Media (PR)

2010-04-20T09:09:00.000-04:00

Not all small businesses can afford an expensive public relations person, especially in this economy. But, your company's news and assets are important, and the more they are presented through media outlets, the more free advertising your company receives! Now, who doesn't want that?

To engage reporters without a PR firm, make press releases available online.

Submitting a press release to a paid distribution service is great, and if you can afford it, do it. But you also need a permanent online press area where all your releases are posted.

This online press area should be called 'News' or 'Resources' and should offer a simple link from your company homepage and have a logical URL (something like www.yourcompanyurl.com/press).

Setting up this section on your website will ensure reporters have a place to go if they need news or further information on your company. Reporters are always looking for leads, and coming across one of your press releases may be just what they are looking for...plus, it helps to have your name out there!

Just list the press releases in chronological order with a click through option to see the entire release. If you send out a lot of releases, you should archive these into monthly folders to keep down the clutter.

Also, this section will become a huge asset for SEO purposes. As your site acquires new content, search engines will crawl your site more often and move it up in its search rankings.

Finally, it is a good idea to offer a distinct method of contact for press and bloggers. This will only give an ego boost to your company and make it seem important enough to need such a channel, it prevents email inquiries from getting lost in the noise of your business inbox and helps you get back to reporters in a timely manner.

So put your press releases online!

No More "Become a Fan", Welcome "Like" to Facebook Pages

2010-04-19T22:11:00.004-04:00

Facebook users now have to make much less of a commitment to become linked to their favorite brands. Instead of having to click a button to 'Become a Fan' of a brand, users simply need to click 'Like' just as they would for their friends' status updates or most recent posted photo album. This change will get more users to interact with brands on Facebook and has opened up the linkage between user profiles and brand pages. A whole new world of community pages are coming to Facebook, so stay tuned...

To learn more, check out this great article from Mashable.

Guest Post: Social Media Etiquette for Students: 50 Crucial Rules

2010-04-05T14:31:00.000-04:00

Guest post by Jesse Young of Online Degree Programs:

When you first got to college, social media was probably about sending party invites, posting pictures of your new friends, complaining about tests, meeting dates, and keeping in touch with family back home. Now that you’re getting ready to leave school behind, you will need to reconfigure your social media activity so that future employers and contacts respect you. Here are 50 social media etiquette rules to remember.

General

Keep these general tips in mind whenever you log on.

Act like you would in real life: Just because you’re hiding behind a computer as you type doesn’t mean that people aren’t going to connect what you say online with who you are as a real person. How you act on social media sites is often the most direct way that people — including potential employers — will perceive you.
Don’t discriminate just because: You can’t be friends with everyone online, but you’ll never broaden your network if you don’t connect with people outside of your circle and comfort zone. Be willing to open yourself up to all types of followers and friends.
You have to earn respect: You can earn respect on social media sites by offering quality, accessible information in a friendly way. Share relevant links, commentary and helpful advice.
Always introduce yourself: Whenever you friend or follow a new person or jump into an open conversation, take a quick second to introduce yourself. Share your real name, occupation and geographical location. It’s just polite.
Avoid burnout: If you’re on social media sites constantly, you’ll burn yourself out and annoy other people. Find a balance so that you’re making quality contributions to the discussion, not dominating it.
Tweet and update for your most conservative followers: If you have lots of friends online, it can be hard to remember who’s still listening in to your conversations and updates. Remember who your most conservative followers are, and make sure whatever you put online is appropriate for them.
Be curious, but not nosy: Social media communities are all about sharing and learning from each other. You’re encouraged to ask questions, but don’t be too inquisitive about people’s personal lives until you become actual friends.
Be extra polite: You wouldn’t make a nasty comment to a person you just met at work or school: you’d probably go above and beyond to seem friendly and helpful. Apply the same attitude to your social media activity.
Don’t ask for favors: Once you’ve established a relationship with an online contact, you can ask for advice or help, but don’t log on just to ask people to do your work for you.
Follow the golden rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated, and you’ll develop a reputation for being a worthy friend and follow who other users will want to pass along to their network.
Remember that there are boundaries: Not everyone you’re following — or who is following you — is your personal friend, so avoid talking about health problems and mushy stuff.

Facebook

These Facebook-specific rules address photos, tagging, and all those applications.

Don’t cyber-stalk: If you’re never getting any responses back to the wall posts and messages you leave on someone’s profile, then you’re cyber-stalking them. Stop.
Don’t drunk-Facebook: Sending drunk Facebook messages or making drunk wall posts can be funny with friends, but seriously damaging with professional contacts.
Don’t send apps: Make sure that when you try out an application, you’re not sending it to everyone you’re friends with. That’s right: everyone.
Don’t write private messages on wall posts: It’s embarrassing, rude, and makes you look immature.
Edit your photo choices: Don’t put up photos of yourself or others engaging in illegal, irresponsible activities, including pictures of you chugging pitchers of beer, whether or not you’re 21.
Stop playing the farm animal game if you want to be taken seriously: Would you want to hire someone who clearly spends all day swapping cows and feeding goats on Facebook?
Be careful who you tag: Just because you don’t have a job doesn’t mean your friends are okay with having ridiculous photos of themselves posted on Facebook so that their moms and bosses can see them.
Write clear status updates: People who write vague, depressing song lyrics or status updates come across as self-indulgent.
Be respectful of the relationship status: Talk with your partner before changing a relationship status. If it’s good news, do you want an online medium to be the one to share it? If it’s bad, you want to make sure you’re not breaking up with someone via Facebook.
Avoid chain status updates: Don’t fall for chain status updates to save a child with cancer or promote world peace. They’re annoying.
Ask friends to make introductions: You’ll avoid freaking people out if you ask a friend to make an introduction rather than friending people you’ve randomly spotted online.

Twitter

Twitter is addictive, but it also has lots of traps that can lure you into looking unprofessional and lazy.

Don’t use automation tools: You might think it’s nice to send an automatic message every time someone follows you, but it actually makes you look lazy and unengaged. Social media is about the personal effort behind the connection.
Keep tabs on your ratio: One of the easiest ways for people to decide whether or not they want to follow you is to check your follow ratio. Try to keep it balanced so that you don’t look desperate or like a snob.
Share other people’s work, not just your own: For every tweet you make about yourself, make two or three tweets about someone else’s work or a third party article.
Send private messages for private conversations: Twitter has an option to let you send private messages, and it’s important that you remember to use it when appropriate.
Always share your best work: You never know who’s watching you on Twitter, so always promote your absolute best work, not your mediocre stuff.
Use your real name: Social media is about being honest, not tricking people. Even a clever pseudonym will turn off your more professional contacts.
Don’t be a sucker: As with any viral medium, it’s easy to get caught up in scams and just plain incorrect information. Don’t go crazy retweeting sensational stories until you’ve verified they’re true.
Use a real picture: Just as you use your real name, use a real photo of yourself to help others understand who they’re connecting with.
Don’t ask to be retweeted: If your tweet is good enough to share, your followers will retweet it without a desperate plea.
Don’t use Twitter to point fingers: You can send open tweets to ask about a problem, but don’t trash companies or individuals just because you had a bad experience. Contact them in private.

Grammar and Communication

There are appropriate shortcuts for social media, but don’t go overboard. Otherwise, no one will be able to understand you, and they may think you’re lazy and ignorant.

Know what @means: @ is a sign that means you’re responding to or directly addressing a particular user or message. On some sites, it even tags that person.
Use the word, not the number: Substituting "2" for "to" looks like you’re in junior high.
Social media is a step up from texting: Unless you’re updating all your messages on a mobile device, remember that social media is a step up from texting. If you’re typing on a keyboard, you can type out the whole word.
Don’t make stupid mistakes: You’re not receiving an official grade from your tweets and updates, but you are being judged on your grammar mistakes.
Edit your work: Take a few seconds to review your messages so that you can correct any mistakes.
Avoid exclamation points: They’re warranted sometimes, but punctuation marks are annoying to read and make your writing look juvenile.
Always be honest and transparent: With so many distractions going on online, keep your messages short, clear and truthful.
Know which rules you can break: Regular abbreviations and certain punctuation marks — like ellipses — can be used more freely on social media sites.

Job Search

When it comes time to hunt for new employment or broaden your network, remember these crucial tips for the online job search.

It’s okay to be chatty: Penelope Trunk explains that your LinkedIn resume should be a little chatty, but still professional. You want to stand out and come across as easy-going, but know when you’re crossing the line.
Don’t follow an employer’s personal account: You’re going to look desperate and creepy if you follow an employer or hiring manager’s personal profiles. Look for official ones instead.
Monitor your style: Using all caps and typing in the vernacular are inappropriate when making professional contacts.
Follow up: once.: It’s a good idea to follow-up after a meeting, interview or communiqué, but doing so over and over is stalking and spammy.
Understand who your target contacts want to deal with: An executive isn’t going to be interested in talking to an intern, so find the middle man who can put you two in touch.
Be mindful of the time you contact someone: Don’t send Facebook messages at 11p.m. Friday night. Send them during regular business hours to show that you’re responsible and can work on a normal schedule, too.
Mind your ps and qs: Always say thank you and understand that anyone who’s helping you in your online job search is doing you a favor. You aren’t entitled to anything.
Keep up with your LinkedIn profile headline: Make sure your headline is updated to accurately communicate your current occupational status.
Don’t be bold about looking for a new job if you’re still under contract: Remember this for your future: don’t advertise that you’re looking for a new job if you haven’t told your boss you’re quitting. You could find yourself without any form of employment if your boss — or his or her colleagues — find your updates online.
Help others: It’s not just about your job search. Offer to help friends and followers if you have a contact they need.

Jesse Young is a freelance writer having expertise in covering topics related to social media marketing and educational programs. She is currently associated with OnlineDegreePrograms.org