Social Networking Sites
So, all social networking sites have different functions? I use Twitter as a push/pull news source and for relationship building with people who are interested in the same things as me, whereas I use Facebook for people I already know to continue to build those relationships, and of course there are many more options. On Linked In, you are only able to connect with people that you truly know, and both parties have to accede to the invitation. Linked In recommend that you only link with those that you really know, as all your connections are able to post recommendations ,  which won’t be helpful from those you don’t know… the idea is to build a trusted network, and if you’re interested in what is in someone’s public profile, you can get introduced through another friend!

Linked In: Business Only?
As we noted in an earlier post, Linked In is designed for maximising business opportunities. Interestingly, when I checked out Google images to see if anyone had poked fun at the “stiff” reputation that Linked In has, I was faced with a sea of serious blue and white images and earnest endorsements for Linked In, so it clearly doesn’t attract that kind of attention, but there are more functions to this site than at first glance

DrBexL: Profile
I’ve had my Linked In profile up for a while, but not done a huge amount with it, but over the past few weeks I’ve had an increasing number of requests for connections. So, what does my profile now include:

• Current job has now become current jobs. It’s great to be able to see them concurrantly, demonstrating the range of projects that I maintain an active interest in. I used “Import Resume” to import from a Word document. I had problems initially, but this could potentially have been that 2 windows were open, and it did eventually work. Fairly impressive, although as with all these automated tools, not 100% accurate.
• An image.  I’m still debating whether to change this to the “Keep Calm and Carry On” image I’ve been using most other places, but I also have a PhD portrait doing the rounds, and I like to ring the changes – although the conventional wisdom is “Keep it the same across the platforms”.
• WordPress application: This draws the latest posts from my http://ww2poster.wordpress.com/ feed. I would like to be able to add a feed from this site also, but it only allows one site, so I have also implemented BlogLink by Typepad, which not only draws the feed from here (for some reason in duplicate, there don’t appear to be any edit options), but also shows me the latest postings from my contacts.
• Added a few entries to the “Reading List” (which feeds back into Amazon, but unfortunately without any monies to you), which gives an indication of how seriously you take the projects you profess to be interested in. I read a lot, but would use this space only for “professional” books, which might make it manageable, but for today, I don’t have time to add them all right now!
• Slideshare (for which I already have an external account), which gives me access to uploaded PowerPoint (and other presentation) slides uploaded by my connections and those in my industry. Presentations can be download, shared through other social media, and recommended. Recommendations not only help others work through the “dross”, but demonstrate that you use credible resources, and therefore your recommendations may have some value.
• Joined a number of relevant groups. There’s hundred to choose from, so care needed here. Again, look at those that your connections are using to assess their relevance, and then sift through the “noise” for helpful information. I receive a summary email every day, so can quickly read the headlines.
• Recommendations for a handful of connections (it’s great for working on being concise), with more in planning. I have also contacted others (again, more in planning) to request recommendations on my own work.
• I haven’t used Box.Net yet, for the uploading of files to the profile.