Social Media in Real Life

I attended a conference event this afternoon. Full of other people involved in social media and keen to hear from others about what they were doing, and gain both ideas and best practice. When your role is something which is fairly niche you may find that you are one of the few people in the organisation carrying it out. If this is the case, then joining both real life and web networks and forums can really add benefit.

Here are a few ways that I get benefit from these events:

1. Share the reality. Often you only hear the success stories. Building relationships and getting out and about and networking allows you to have honest conversations about what is actually happening, what is working as well as what the challenges are. Invaluable to help you recognise that you aren’t the only one in that situation.

2. Continue the conversation. Especially with Twitter and a well promoted hashtag it is very possible to connect after the event with a wider range of people than there is time to meet people at the event.

3. Inspire and energise. Getting together with a lot of pele who are all passionate about the work that they do and want to share ideas and best practice not only gives you ideas but also helps you to bring that energy back into the organisation.

Related posts:

1. Social Media – anything, everything or somewhere in the middle?
2. Social Media Marketing – It’s about more than “show me the money”
3. Reasons to avoid using social media for your small business