I look back on two occaisions in my past when I saw this same concept in use only on a pencil and paper level.  When I got out of the Navy in 1987 I went to work for a major insurance company and the first two days on the job the only thing I did was make a list of everyone that I knew no matter how well I knew them. Everyone from best friends to the guy that took my money at the local convenience store for a cup of coffee. This was to be my core list of sales calls.  A few years later I took a job as a car salesman (hardest job in the world by the way) and once again the first couple of days at work were devoted to making a list of everyone I knew.

So now that I think of it the concept is not new just the technology involved. We have moved form legal pad and pen to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace et al……  Maybe CIS 101 in college these days should include how to start and maintain a personal social network.

What are your thoughts on having these networks as a suggested job requirement?

I am curious as to what your opinion is?

Paying someone to be a full time social networker could have it’s benefits in establishing a more personal relationship between customer and company. By providing customers the ability to interact with your company via Twitter, Facebook or any other social network, you are bringing your business to a more personal level. As a social networker who creates an online persona and then uses that persona to interact with followers you have in effect brought your company down to a one to one level with the customer.  People like the ability to communicate with a company, to provide ideas and suggestions as well as complaints, and the smart social networking manager will use this information to better their product or service.

Maybe the time has come to add this position to your company. What is your opinion?

I suppose I just assume because I know what it is that everyone else knows also. Wrong! Her 16 year old daughter piped up and immediately said something to the effect of “oh mom don’t you know anything!!” So I tried to expain to here as briefly as possible what social networking was and more specifically what Twitter was and how people us it to keep others up to date with various aspects of thier life. I told here there is everything from business to personal messages flying around and you can really get insight into what other people are doing and what they are interested in.  More importantly though this conversatoin turned to the whole use of mobile communications devices and social networking and the impact it is having on lives.

She admitted she was technologically resistant as she thinks it takes too much time to learn to use these advances and that they are too complicated. I told her on the contrary they can actually make your life easier.  I showed her an example with one of the people I follow on Twitter who is an employee of Southwest Airlines and where he periodically posts special announcements about reduced fares.  I showed her a contact of mine on Facebook who works for Dell Computers who offers discount codes only for Facebook contacts.  I could see the light coming on as she listened.  Then she said how can all of this be used in my day to day life. I gave her this example.

A friend of mine went to a locally owned regional store that sells electronics, stereos, televisions, computers etc….   He saw a nice 52″ high definition television but thought the price was too high. The salesperson was really putting the pitch to him to buy the TV but Kevin, the shopper told the salesperson to hang on while he looked something up. He then proceeded to pull his Iphone out of his pocket and went online and found the exact same television at Best Buy for almost 400 dollars cheaper with free delivery as well. He showed his Iphone screen to the salesperson and said I would really like this tv but I can go across town and get the same model for this price. The salesperson said wait a minute and went to talk to the store manager and he came back and said they would match the price and he got his new tv.

This is just one example of how technology and social networks are working in business and personal lives to make things easier. I told my friend that the time is coming when department stores, restaurants and other business will offer special discounts via Twitter, Facebook and other similar programs which will be advantageous to both the consumer and the business. I told her imagine getting a message on Friday evening that says something to the effect that on Saturday from 9 until 3 XYZ department store is offering 50% off everthing in the store to Twitter followers only and to use promo code “whatever”.  Only Twitter followers of that particular store would get the discount.

I told her that was only the tip of the iceburg and that there is so much more possible…………..  So if you are over 40 and not quite sure what all this Twittering, Facebooking and other “ing’s” are all about, just ask a user and you will be suprised at what it can do for you.

The next time you have a special discount, why not use Twitter to advertise your savings and see what happens. I would be curious to see the results.

Several days ago I posted how this blog had jumped on the Twitter train and how Twitter is being used on several of my websites.  Within the last few days I have seen a jump in traffic with a significant part of the increase coming from Twitter.  Maybe I should have gotten on board sooner, but as they say, it is better late than never.

It will be interesting to see how Twitter changes the dynamics of traffic generation.

I know I am a little late on the social networking train but as they say better late than never. One thing I am finding out is that you can spend a lot of time working the social network scene. Is there such a job title as a Professional Social Networker?  I could see if a large portion of your business comes via the Internet that it might be beneficial to have a “social networker” who works as part of the marketing department.

What are your thoughts on Twitter as part of an effective marketing plan?

I won’t try to rehash what Jason says in his article. Go over to WebProWorld and read it for yourself. This is definitely something to think about.  Great article Jason.

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