As I peruse the various social networks out there, I’m often highly amused at the things that people write on their pages.
From a list of places to where you’ve traveled, to what you did last night (I really don’t want to know), to a list of your favorite books or your favorite songs, to a collection of photos of your friends mugging for the camera and hamming it up, to you know what else.
Does all this stuff really allow me to get to “know” you better?
And what does all this stuff say about your ability to carry out a business relationship online (which is actually the part in which I’m most interested). Does it matter that you like to hit the bar frequently and take pictures with your friends draped around you? Well, maybe for certain sales jobs. But for most business relationships, it would probably hurt your ability to carry on business.
And what about the expression of culture? Your preferences in books and music. Your favorite book is “Ulysses.” You like accordion music, or ska, or post-punk. Maybe those interests might create an attraction with like minded potential business relations, but there’s also at least an equal chance that those preferences might repel perfectly acceptable business partners or clients.
Let’s not even bother talking about expressions of politics or religion and what that could do to potential online business relationships.
So the point? If you have a mind of ever doing business through establishment of relationships online, check the ego at the door. Remember. It’s nothing personal; it’s just business.
I’m curious: which network are you referring to specifically? It seems like you’re looking at Facebook, or even worse, MySpace, from a business context.
I recognize that this is what happens in real life with employers, but it’s not what most users are presenting themselves for! Perhaps you’d have better luck finding professionals on LinkedIn?
It’s almost like going to a bar with the intent of finding a new hire for your workplace. Sure, you can do it, but this is what you’re going to see first.
Alex