Page 32 - Today’s Business Communication; A How-to Guide for the Modern Professional

WhY MUST I REMEMBER ThAT NOThINg ON ThE INTERNET 21

users, and 800 million unique users visit YouTube each month. Because
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we figure you may be using YouTube as much or more than we are, we
suggested in Chapter 1 that you look up Ryan Kristoffer on YouTube
to watch his advice on making presentations. LinkedIn, which many of
us view as the leading “professional” social media site, boasts more than
200 million members.
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Some professionals avoid using social media for a number of reasons.
For example, one of this book’s authors (Jason) has a friend who refuses to
have any social media accounts because he is afraid of mixing his personal
and professional lives. Other people avoid using social media because they
don’t see the value or don’t want to give up any of their perceived privacy.
The decision to use social media is personal, but good reasons to do so
include the following:

• Building your professional reputation and brand
• Enhancing job searches
• Extending your professional network
• Strengthening your existing professional network
• Staying informed about major trends and issues in your
industry
• Sharing your knowledge and expertise with others

Many of us are anxious about using social media, and some of us approach
social media use far too casually. Just as in business writing, our goal is to
strike a balance between being too casual and being too stodgy and dull.
By following a few simple rules and keeping the principles of effective
business communicators (see Chapter 1) in mind, you can have an enjoy-
able and rewarding social media experience. Here are those simple rules:

Remember That You Are the Message

Consider yourself a brand and think carefully about what your social
media accounts say about your brand. Your brand is not just about the
things you say but also about the image you present to the world. Pictures
matter just as much as words. Recently, an Alabama-based news reporter
learned this lesson the hard way. She was terminated without cause after