NYC LinkedIn Talk Radio  

After thinking about yesterday's post, I decided to add this one.

Now, keep in mind that this is MY schedule for online social networking, and not necessarily a suggestion on how you should schedule your day.

The intent is to give you an example of how to go about scheduling your time spent on online social networking sites.

Also, the presumption here is that you're using online social networking sites to grow your business.

Before I go into it, I want to let you know a little about how my day goes...

I am employed as an operations manager for a litigation support company. In a nutshell, my company works onsite for various law firms and corporations handling their mail room services, photocopy and scanning centers, and office supplies. I am charged with managing 35 people, tracking cash flow for my site (profit and loss), and acting as a liaison between my employer and site (i.e. client) for various issues.

It is a very demanding, fast-paced job, so I do not have a lot of time to surf on the Internet during work hours and such, and when I'm not working my job, I'm working my home-based event planning and promotions business, or consulting various home-based entrepreneurs or sole proprietors.

Of course, all work and no play will make me a dull boy, so I make sure to make time to rest and spend time with my friends and family.

I tend to be check online social networking sites Monday through Friday, and here is how I manage my time spent on social networking sites:

• Breakfast - While eating my breakfast at my desk, I'll check out LinkedIn to see what my connections are up to and to see if any questions or answers of interest have been posted.



• Lunch - I usually have my lunch at my desk so I like to see what my friends on Facebook are doing and type in a few names of people from my past whom I'd like to reconnect with. I also like to see what my connections are doing of Fast Pitch! Networking



• Late Afternoon/Early Evening - Before I go home, or while I'm on my way home on the subway, I'll log onto Twitter to let those who are 'following' me know what going on with me and probably make a comment about some miscellaneous thing or pose a question.



• Evenings - Some evenings are spend either attending a Meetup (i.e. face-to-face event), or doing a 'phone blitz' on BlitzTime

The weekends are typically reserved for family and friend time, but I do take the time to do research, so I'll check out a few recorded videos on YouTube or Ustream, check out podcasts/Internet radio shows on Blog Talk Radio.

Remember, it is important to get out there and talk to people. But even if your impetus for using online social networking sites is business related, don't forget focus on building relationships.

If you want to see some cool videos on using social networking sites for business and pleasure, check out Perry Belcher's videos on YouTube.

I have not had the opportunity to meet him or even chat with him yet, but his videos are totally awesome.

Check them out.

Have a great 2009, folks!

Tyrone Turner

DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to be an expert. I am nothing more than a student of this new phenomenon called online social networking. The following are just my thoughts based on my personal experience and results. The intention of this blog entry is to provoke thought on this topic so that people make better time management decisions and have realistic expectations from their online social networking experiences. This is NOT gospel. I leave the gospel to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Peter, and Paul (smile).

How many times a day do you get invitations via e-mail to connect with someone, or to become friends with someone on one social networking site or another, or that someone is following you? I get these kind of e-mail messages every day and I have to constantly remind myself to heed to the advice that I give others...

Make sure to limit the number of online social networks that you belong to otherwise you'll be glued to the computer and real life will pass you by. On top of that, you'll blow up your e-mail account because it will get full of messages pretty quickly.

I like what Timothy Ferris does with his e-mail as stated in his best selling book, The 4 Hour Work Week. He checks his e-mail twice per day, and only Monday through Friday. When you adopt that practice, you'll find that you're a lot more productive.

Anyway, I digress. Let me get back to my take on online social networking sites.

• They are cool tools to add to your social and business tool box. However, they DO NOT replace what you're already doing (e.g. picking up the phone and visiting with people face-to-face)



• Know what your goals are. If you're getting involved with social networking sites to grow your business, make sure that you're joining the right online social networks. Not all are conducive to business networking.



• Join no more than 5 online social networks



• Use online social networking sites to as a bridge to get online conversations offline (e.g. face-to-face)

In a previous blog entry, I talked about 7 different types of face-to-face networking groups, and how the guru of networking and founder of Business Network International, Ivan Misner, Ph.D., mentions that you should belong to 3 different types of these networking groups. Because online social network cuts out the travel component, I'd say that you can do 5 online social networking groups.

Here is my Fab 5 (in no particular order) as these are the ones that best fit MY objectives and personality:

1. Meetup - I am a huge fan of this site because they get it. I love their slogan: "Maybe it's time for a little less face-to-screen and a little more face-to-face." I have been able to meet some wonderful people in Atlanta and Charlotte. I was able to get on a plane and meet these wonderful folks who were incredibly hospitable and welcoming to me. To date, my event planning and promotions business, Grassroots Business Network is growing mostly because of Meetup.com.



2. LinkedIn - I have found this site to be a great resource because there is a huge knowledge base here. People ask and answer great questions. Also, if you're good at what you do, people recommend you on this site for the whole world to see.



3. Facebook - Man, you can find anyone here! I've bumped into people that I haven't seen or spoken to in years. It is definitely worth getting on this site because you can reconnect with people from the past.



4. Twitter - This is kind of like a 'mini blog' where you can give your contacts that answer to that ever-present question...What are you doing right now?



5. Fast Pitch! Networking - This one is a sleeper hit. Fast Pitch! Networking is loaded with features. Everything from instant messaging, video chat between you and your contacts, and the list goes on. This one is a serious business only resource.
   
   I know that I said 5, but I just have to throw this one in as it is a new type of online social networking site...



6. BlitzTime - This company provides a very unique phone-based and web-based platform that allows for speed networking events over the phone. It is a blast and you can really cut through to the chase and get down to the nitty-gritty with people. It is hard to explain, so just go to BlitzTime.com and click on the Interactive Demo link at the top of the page.

Well, there you have it, folks. I hope that this shed some light on online social networking sites.

All the best to you and remember to get out there and meet people from time to time.

Hey, you! Get out up from that computer desk! And you! Put down that Blackberry!

Tyrone Turner

When I hear people speak about their goals, they are usually only talking about how much money they want to make, or how much weight they want to lose. How about having a more balanced approach - a more holistic approach to goal setting?

How about focusing on eight areas instead of only two?

Below are the eight areas and some brief definitions. Something that you'll notice is that you have to be very specific when setting goals.

1. Financial - EXACTLY how much money are you looking to earn? How to you plan to go about doing that? Via your job, your business, selling stuff on eBay, etc.? WHY do you want this money? What will you do with it?



2. Physical - EXACTLY how much weight or inches are looking to lose? How will you go about doing it? Explore your options, then commit to sticking to your game plan.



3. Business - EXACTLY how much money are you looking to make? Don't sell yourself short, but be realistic. If it is a sales goal, how many new customers and or distributors (if you're an MLMer), ordering how much volume do you need to achieve this goal? What face-to-face networking groups are you going to visit with? Do you have a BlitzTime account yet? Are you going to get those premium qualified leads by signing up with Salesconx?



4. Family - What are you going to do special this new year with your significant other, your children, and other love ones? If it is a trip, when are you going on this trip?



5. Recreation - It is said that all work and no play will make one a dull person, so what are you going to do for fun this new year?



6. Spiritual - Do you belong to a house of worship, or do you belong to a community service organization? If you don't give, you generally will not get. That is how the law of attraction works, so go become a 'go giver'.



7. Career - Are you looking to get a promotion at your current job or looking to make a change in the new year? What are you going to do to prepare yourself? When are you going to update your resume? Are you on LinkedIn? Have you been asking co-workers and clients to recommend you on LinkedIn? Recommendations are key. What job fairs and networking events are you going to go to?



8. Education - I believe it was Aristotle who said that it is man's (and woman's) responsibility to educate their soul. What are you going to do increase your knowledge in the new year? Are you going back to school? What workshops and seminars are you going to attend? Any audio and/or video programs on your shopping list? What topics are your interested in and what books are you going to read on said topics?

I hope that this gives you something to think about when setting goals for the new year - make sure to balance your scales.

All the best,

Tyrone Turner

We will have Steve Kessler, President of Sunrise Premiums Corp. on the show. Their website is http://www.sunrisepremiums.net

David S. Bunch (aka 'Sensei Buddha') is a 4th degree black belt in an eclectic form of martial arts Zujitsu under the instruction of Soke Chaka Zulu. Currently, he is training in Pekiti-Tirsia under the instruction of Guro Eddie Hunt, and Goju Karate under Master Thomas Bennett. He has been training in the martial arts for over 20 years. Other than being a martial arts instructor, he's done protection work for work for celebrities such as Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson.