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Same challenges and different mindsets

I'm almost done with several white papers regarding social networking online. My experience with my NameReality.com project has presented many questions and the answers suddenly "appeared" overnight.

I've been relatively quiet in the recruiting sphere for a while as I worked on my special "projects" that each touched on various spheres of marketing and recruiting... and I found an unusual amount of synergy in the different projects. The challenges of each project were nearly identical when scaled down to the basic level, yet the industry acceptance of the various solutions were radically different.

The social acceptance and technical level of the average recruiters has some very key elements that need to addressed to properly utilize some networking tools, and there are a few out there that they just have to look at to gain huge advantages that other industries have already figured out. This "gap" reminds me very much of the kick-back we saw when Monster.com rolled so long ago.

Neat Social Tech

Geek Acronym of the Day- MoSoSo

MOSOSO is an acronym for Mobile Social Software, a software that opens an access to a social network with a mobile product (cell phone, blackberry, PDA, etc).

The latest newcomer to the MoSoSo market is Jambo.net.

Utilizing Wi-Fi hotspots to connect members, Jambo can determine if a Wi-Fi enabled device such a PDA or laptop is the member of the same group and notify members of each other. The service allows members to anonymously contact each other through messaging systems and if they choose, to introduce themselves with profiles and a real-world introduction. In addition to Wi-Fi hotspots, Jambo also supports using a peer-to-eer network allowing users to find group members while in airplanes, buses or cafes.

I also wrote about Dodgeball.com a while back (who has another service with the same feature), but that company was purchased by Google last year and I have yet to see the technology they utilize be applied in any new fashion within the Google family.

Well I've stepped up to the plate to develop www.SeattleMojo.com in conjunction with MetroMojo.com. They have great set of community sites that have developed over the past 18 months in the central region and this will be the first west coast city to launch.

Right now editorial content is low for SeattleMojo, but that will be corrected soon enough. There are some interesting options we'll be implementing on this site, so it will be a proving ground for some of our revolutionary ideas regarding online community. Right now we have a feature set that is very similar to Myspace.com, but our model will be focused around the local community and have a real world aspect to it as well.

ANNOUNCING NAMEREALITY.COM BETA

We’ve been putting in some long hours to work on our blogging services group. We are happy to announce that NameReality.com has entered it’s public test phase.

 

We have assembled a great set of tools to help new users join the blogging arena and we are quickly moving into setting up a variety of custom blog solutions for our clients.

 

NameReality.com provides a great set of add-on services that work with almost any blogging platform ranging from Blogger to Wordpress. We’ve also tied in our own blogging service so that individuals can sign up for free blogging services through our own platform (and may I add, it has a lot of nice bells and whistles).

 

As the next few months move forward, we are dedicated to updating and adapting our services to meet the ever changing blogosphere.  

Ways to blog your way to traffic-

Post about current issues, and if possible give your post a controversial question. While it may seem to be okay to go left or right on an issue, many times it’s fundamentally important to drive yourself right down the center and pull in both sides. Blogs are created to encourage collaboration and commentary!

 

Post on other blogs, try to bring commentary to your own blog by visiting other blogs with similar themes and readerships. Take a look at the readership and don’t shy away from throwing in your viewpoint. Just remember that once you hit “submit” there will be dozens of eyes reading what you just wrote. Just like a good marriage, the phrase “for better or worse” will come into play and you’ll have to roll with the ups and downs of the responses you get. Just keep in mind, that unless you are rude- any commentary is good commentary.

 

Join other blog communities, if you find a blog with similar ideology and industry focus- volunteer to add some articles to the mix every now and then. Consider all the blogs of the world your soap-box and stand proudly on top of it. Be sure to talk about relevant issues on each blog.

Boosting a blog- better content for beginners

I've been spending a good deal of time with clients in the past three months dealing with an excessive number of requests regarding the speed and variety of blog posts required to properly build a blog. With some creative thought amongst some of my wonderful peers, I've managed to assemble a few comrades in the blogosphere to offer up some new services to our clients.

I'm not entirely ready for the grand showcase, but we'll soon be able to announce some of our hard work and move towards an even better solution for some of our blogging clients.

The blogosphere is evolving, and so is my schedule

I’ve been busy lately working with a variety of clients in the blogosphere. It’s amazing the sheer number of creative individuals out there that want to have a voice heard and responded to.

In the past few months things have been exceedingly crazy and worthwhile. A new client here and another there, all asking "How do I?". Well, that's simple. Just ask me and I'll work my brain until something wonderful pops out.

Employment Networking Online-

When most people think of networking events they probably envision a group of people standing around a room trying to introduce themselves over coffee or moving around a buffet table handing out business cards. While these are typical scenarios, the new age of networking online has taken us into a world where professionals are connected 24 / 7 through e-mail, personal digital assistants, cell phones, and our favorite personal obsessions that can be googled.

 

There is a new blog going online every second. As I typed this sentence ten people just started a new blog. As each one goes online a new person or business is establishing who they are online and each of those people is looking to relay and connect with other similar individuals. In a few days, personal friends will find out that each new blog exists and over a month each new blog will be advertised through word of mouth to dozens of people the writer never knew existed.

 

So what? Why would I care?

 

To effectively network online (or in any situation) you must network all the time. Every time you meet someone new or are standing in line at a coffee shop is a chance to relay information that may be of use to you. The more people who know about it, the more people who know about you.

 

This real world networking practice has very consistent steps to establish an online network-

Speak up. Visit industry blogs and community portals and offer your ideas and experience. If you don’t speak up, communication has failed to happen.

 

Don’t be afraid to be controversial. Professionals have different thoughts all the time. Educated readers will have respect for ideas that are well supported and thought out.

 

Offer your ideas. One of the greatest aspects of blogging is the ability to relay information and inspiration. If you see a problem, offer a solution.

 

Follow up with your ideas. If you see a potential for an idea, chance is there are several like-minded individuals who have interest in the idea. Ask for input, ask for assistance, and don’t be afraid to establish new groups to focus on your goals.

 

                                                                                                                                   

 

In the long run, good networking online is based on consistent communication skills and being able to share your ideas to a varied network of individuals. Once you have the door open, simply maintain consistent contact and continue to share information. Even if your direct network fails to connect you with a good opportunity- your work and skills will be documented for the casual wanderer who may happen to be the best opportunity you’ve had.

Why Blogging is better than a resume

Imagine this scenario-

 

Mega corporation XYZ needs a skilled and professional rocket scientist. They have searched left and right for a talented rocket scientist and now the company recruiter is digging through hundreds of resumes saying “I’m the best rocket scientist there is”

 

Well that’s great. We’ve all read the personals page - “Interesting guy seeks intellectual lady”. Online resumes have become word centric descriptions of candidates that are often searched by computerized systems looking for the right keyword, the right education, or the right set of numbers. If any one of those factors is off our information may never see the light of day.

 

In the past few years however blogging has allowed individuals to create a constant and ever growing database of who they are and how they think. Rather than see a candidate for what they think they can do, you can read about how a candidate thinks and conveys information on a consistent basis.

 

Anyone of us could go out and hire someone to write up a fancy well worded resume and we may even be able to sit through a few interviews and sound like skilled and professional individuals, but blogging takes us to the next step of being able to prove and relay our original insight and ability over a duration. It also allows us to connect with industry professionals over time and build experience with them as individuals, sharing personal ideas and inspiration that cannot be related through a one page resume.  

The “Virtual You”

So many of us have established a resume profile through such sites as Monster.com looking for our next professional opportunity. With the click of a button our information becomes one of millions of useless electronic clutter and we have relatively no ability to control where that information goes or how it will be interpreted.

 

Blogging has created the ability for professionals around the world to reach out and share not only ideas, but inspiration as well. The ability to quickly publish detailed articles on the latest industry trends allows the “movers and shakers” of today’s online world to quickly touch base with industry experts around the world. Feedback is almost instantaneous sometimes and within hours a good piece of thinking or solid logic can cover the globe.

 

What can you do today?

 

When looking for a job, you should look at what you know and share that information. We all know that the world isn’t full of mind readers and we all know that the only way potential contacts will learn to respect your ideas and your ability is to share your insight with them. A few well written articles covering your experience in whatever industry you are in can quickly and surely identify you as a capable and knowledgeable professional.

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