How to effectively build your network in the Social Media sphere

2. Pre-requisites
• Assume you know the basics of networking
• Assume you’re familiar with social media
terms: viral, social media, social network, SEO

3. Summary of the Classic Presentation I’ve been doing for many times
NETWORKING SKILL

4. Networking matters
• 85% of the best jobs in a company are never
advertised or sent to head-hunters: internal
referrals
• Networking matters
– Earns you the best job(s)
– Puts you in the right chair position
– Differentiates you from the crowd (of applicants)
• Your Network is your intangible asset

5. The Vietnam market
• “Vietnam is a place where everybody knows
everybody”
– If you’re not in, you’re out
• Mainstream Media vs Grapevines: which is
more effective in terms of useful information
extraction?

6. How to build networks
• Not the focus on this presentation
• Assume you’ve already known

7. In the Social Media sphere
THE SELF-VIRALING SKILL

8. • 78% believe in recommendations from others
in their network on a Product!
• Consumers want that Product
• The Product is the subject of virality
Place your Logo  here

9. • xx% believe in recommendations from others
in their network on a Person?
• Employers want that Person
• The Person is the subject of virality
Place your Face  here

10. So what?
• Earns you the best
job(s)
• Puts you in the right
chair position
• Differentiates you
from the crowd (of
applicants)

11. In the Social Media sphere
THE SELF-VIRALING SKILL: HOW?

12. Principles
A. With Potential B. With Communities
Employers
1. Be Valuable 1. Be Helpful
2. Be Identifiable 2. Be Adaptive
3. Be Traceable 3. Be Assertive
4. Be Consistent 4. Be Yourself & Have Fun

13. A1. Be Valuable
• Demonstrate the capabilities companies look for
– Analysis skill
– Reasoning skill
– Ability to express your ideas in written, visual and oral
communication
– Critical thinking
• Show originality in thinking
• Make sure everything you do adds value to your
personal brand

14. A2. Be Identifiable
• Use your real identity, avoid anonymity
• Maintain a Universal Identity across platforms
• Identity should be
– Professional
– Unique
• Best to have a home-base: own blog / website
• Then extend to other auxiliary networks:
LinkedIn, Twitter, FriendFeed, Facebook, Digg,
reddit...
• Be open to opportunities

15. A3. Be Traceable
• Make sure non-tech-savvy recruiters can
search for you on Google
• Make sure what they find on Google is what
you want them to see
• Make sure they always see most updated
information
• Be traceable is more than be searchable;
much more than just SEO

16. A4. Be Consistent
• Your identity must be platform-independent
– Seeing your LinkedIn and your FriendFeed... should
give the same impression that it is you
– When a platform i.e. LinkedIn stops operating, your
identity remains in new forms
• Be consistent in all of your
writings, comments, and the way you submit vote
for others’ contents
• Consistency = predictability for employers
• Consistency doesn’t limit creativity

17. B1. Be Helpful
• Be helpful to others by offering
– Valuable contents
– Free help where possible
• Result: they will recommend you to potential
employers

18. B2. Be Adaptive
• “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”
• Know what you can get and what you can
offer in each community
• Adapt to the culture of each community
• Use the language they use to the extent you
feel comfortable
• Remain consistent (A4) in your own way

19. B3. Be Assertive
• Be assertive to criticism
• Admit mistakes, learn from mistakes. This
shows a god attitude
• Be assertive to trolls
• Assertiveness is a skill that deserves a
separate presentation

20. B4. Be Yourself & Have Fun
• Social Media is thing people work on
• Like anything, work should be fun 

21. Ultimate Goals
• Career progression
– With the organization(s) you work for
– With the communities you are part of
• Personal improvement

22. APPENDICES

23. Career Prospects
• For Social Media Professionals
• Suggestions only
Next slide 

24. Product
Manager
Community Technology
Manager Evangelist
Marketing
Developer
Manager with
Social
with Domain
Product
Knowledge
Insights
Media
Expert
Designer Consultant
Columnist Entrepreneur

25. About this slideshow
• Explains how to apply a framework
(networking) to an environment (social media)
• Networking skill is one of many skills a person
develops
• Is in Beta, always updated

26. Boundaries
• The skill is not only for Social Media Experts, it
is useful for anyone who want to use Social
Media
• Context: this slideshow is put in the Social
Media boundary, it does not evaluate
effectiveness of Social Media compared to
other channels

27. Questions? Feedbacks?
• Please leave your comment on my blog
• Tweet me @taitran

28. Three topics were mentioned
• What do you want to see next?
1. Conventional Networking skill
2. Assertiveness on the Internet
3. Effectiveness of Social Media as a networking
channel
• Leave a comment

29. Thank You & Good Luck
“Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” - Seneca
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