I will be the first to admit that sometimes I feel social media lacks just a bit of personal touch to its users. Ironically, you can only be engaged in most forms of social media while you are… well, alone.
It's a new semester and during each class I speak about the value of being engaged, networking and how social media plays into this. I always suggest they add professors as friends on Facebook so as this tool morphs, after graduation, into a valuable networking tool with a primary focus of strategically expanding your "friends" in the hopes of landing a new/better job those that can help you will already be your "friend". Bottom line, you will be one step ahead of your doppleganger who didn't send the request to be a "friend".
So the friends requests arrive in my in basket:
(Fill in name) added you as a friend on Facebook. We need to confirm that you know (name) in order for you to be friends on Facebook.
To confirm this friend request, follow the link below:
And I click and then accept and then we are friends. Not like meeting at a social event, but it works in today's world.
During class a student pointed out that the "friends"we have on-line are superficial. To some extent I agree and while they may be Superficial it's a start. And so I click the link and click accept – rinse and repeat.
Then I received this:
Lisa Watkins added you as a friend on Facebook. We need to confirm that you know Lisa in order for you to be friends on Facebook.
To confirm this friend request, follow the link below:
And then this…
Lisa sent you a message.
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Subject: Hello From a Student
Hello Professor Handy,
I am Lisa Watkins and I am in your in Tuesday/Thursday 9:00 class. This is my first semester as a Public Relations major, and I am really excited to be in your class. It looks like we are going to have a lot of fun, but also learn many very important principles of PR. I hope you will accept my friend request. Have a good day and I'll see ya next class period!
Sincerely,
Lisa
An introduction following a friend request with a true, personal request for me to add her as a friend…. amazing. Taking an extra step to build a facebook friend(ship) – what a future in PR this girl has. It took just an extra second but I will remember her probably more than many of the other friend requests which I receive.
I responded to her note and let her know I appreciated the introduction.
It got me thinking, how many friends had I requested without so much as an introduction or at least a thank you for the approval. So I shot off a friend request to someone I sort of knew and added a note why I was adding them as a friend and waited…
And then I got a note back!
(Name) confirmed you as a friend on Facebook.
And I waited… And then nothing. Sigh…
Staying ahead of your doppleganger is a never ending task. At this point I think I am behind and he is even better looking…
Agreed regarding being social. Amazing how some people have lost the ability to communicate the old fashioned way – face to face, or even using technology – a phone.
sometimes staying ahead of my doppleganger feels like a never ending task…which i guess it is.
sidenote: many people are very connected via social media but are unable to interact socially. pr is also ALL about being capable of connecting with people in person. i am shocked by how many people say “i don’t know how you talk on the phone all day to strangers, i could never do that.”
i was thinking the other day how post-college it would be great to return and just observe students. what a great study, and something you get to do weekly.
Germaine, I think I know someone else who understands the value of networking…
Bill,
Lisa truly understands the value of networking and she’s starting so early. I learned something from her, especially when it comes to accepting friend requests from PR professionals in the field. Taking the time out to introduce yourself is key to relationship building. Isn’t that what PR is all about? Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Tuesday.
Best,
Paul; Germaine