Interested to learn how you're using Twitter

[Lisa Epstein]

Are you using Twitter to network for a job? For social reasons? A bit of both?

I've just created a Twitter account and I'm finding it a challenge to constantly post new tweets. Some people are tweeting like crazy!


My twitter address is www.twitter.com/LisaEpstein

[Alphonse Ha]

I have a feeling that I am probably very unclear.

My gut tells me that twitter is a very powerful tool and I am trying to find an innovative way to use this tool before the whole world does it first.

[Lisa Epstein]

On Twitter usage:
Came across this post http://tinyurl.com/5nbskd by Penelope Trunk about personal branding through your social media platforms.

She thinks it's unwise to advertise all your social media outlets in one space, like on your blog or Facebook page for instance. She used to have her Twitter address on her blog but decided to remove it. She says there's no need to say the same things within all platforms.

I agree. Each platform should represent a different part of your branding. It's likely that you have completely different audiences following each one.

But what about all this in relation to a job hunt? I think it makes sense to "advertise" your job search status on all subscribed social media platforms. You are after all trying to reach the people in the long tail.

[Alphonse Ha]

Hi Lisa, I have to disagree. In terms of Search Engine Optimization, it is best to have as many content linking to each other as possible. Thus, especially for somebody that have a common name such as "John Smith" (Thank god my name is "Alphonse Ha" ;)), the higher you come up in search engines, the better it is for your personal branding.

I can understand the need to use different social networks for different aspects of your life. This is especially the case for Facebook and LinkedIn for example and it also makes sense because the different social networks were created for different purposes.

However, for your personal branding to be powerful, you should link as many social media possible to your name online.

Now this does not mean that you have to link all of them but I believe that you should link as many as possible (or at the very least, most of them). If you link your youtube, your twitter (it is possible to have mutiple twitter accounts and most API makes it easy to manage multiple ones), your slideshare, your linkedin and your myspace with your blog but decide to keep your Facebook private then your personal branding will still be strong online (especially if your blog is strong).

BTW: a big thank you for advising me to create a linkedin profile. Since then and especially through my job I have been working a lot on personal branding.

Go ahead! Google me, it's ok! :)

[Christina Tierney]

If you feel Twitter is powerful...you need to check out PLURK. The ability to have fluid conversations allows for much greater networking and community building... be sure to "Friend" me if you join...it's really a fascinating experience.

http://plurk.com/redeemByURL?from_uid=31224&check=189248833&...

[Alphonse Ha]

In terms of job hunting and twitter I am a little frustrated by the small presence of twitter in canada (especially quebec). Twitter is such a powerful tool but it can only be as powerful as the active members who use it and the network in quebec is so little that I don't see people getting many jobs via twitter here (what a shame).

Also the fact that Canadians must contact twitter to get tweets on their phone via txt (sms) does not help to spread twitter in Canada especially, when that is the most powerful twitter tool.

I really want twitter in quebec but I don't see it happening any time soon unless twitter decides to make a move North of the border.

Thus, twitter and job hunting in Canada will be abysmal until then.

[Lisa Epstein]

I've given myself plenty of time to adjust to my new life with Twitter. I can safely say that I am not a Twitter addict. I'm not even Twitter dependent.

[Brian Cohen]

I use Twitter both socially and for business. I have a Twitter account for me personally and one for "the business". In today's world (especially in the world I generally work in - growing technology companies), often social and business overlap. I use the personal one for personal notes - what I'm doing, where I am, what I'm working on, etc. The business one I reserve for more official announcements about new blog posts, press releases, etc.

Brian
www.GlobalPitch.com
www.IDiscoverConsulting.com

[Talia]

I actually found my current job through Twitter (but no one has published anything about me. LOL).

[Darlene McDaniel]

Hi Talia,

I would love to hear your story and use it on my blog. Please feel free to send your story to [e-mail].

Darlene
Interview Guru
www.interviewchatter.com