Success: Social Media Networking

By Tonie Auer

Everyone keeps talking about social media and how we've all just got to be a part of it. I'm not sure who the “everyone” is really, but I'll fill you in: they're right. For one of the first times in my life, listening to my peers paid off in all the right ways.

I started small joining LinkedIn and reconnected with many contacts. Through the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon-style efforts, I found many others with whom I should be connected.

Later, I moved over to Facebook. I thought it would be simply a better way to stay connected with friends. Blogging had grown old to me and was getting tiresome. Trolls were irritating me and after doing it since July 2004, I was ready to slow down just a tad. My personal blog is still there, but is neglected, I hate to admit. It was writing I did for pleasure and when it ceased to be fun, I slowed down.

But, this Facebook thing, it’s a lot of fun and I learned — lo and behold — it could land me a bucketload of work. It really has. I have had my foot in the door to a couple of big contracts that haven’t come through just yet, but it was a way in that I hadn’t before had. I have gotten numerous freelancing and subcontracting gigs there for people I’ve never met in person. Through contacts of other contacts and name recognition, I’ve successfully “friended” many professionals, from the public relations and marketing world to magazines and other professionals. And I’ve reaped the benefits of multiple projects from it.

It has also worked well looking for sources for articles. I needed to find a local car dealer for an article and no one was returning my cold calls. I posted on FB what I needed and about a half-dozen journalist or PR friends posted the name of a PR gal who repped a car dealer. A few hours after posting that request, I was done with my interview. The same has happened for multiple stories. It has worked 100 times better than going to Help a Reporter Out. (I’ve never had luck there.)

So, if you're still dragging your feet about the whole social media thing or consider it a time-waster - you’re only partially right. It can definitely be a drain on your valuable time, but it can also be a boon for finding work or finding sources for your projects.

Look me up on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Tonie Auer is the real estate reporter covering Dallas and Fort Worth for Bisnow Media.

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Posted Monday, August 23, 2010 @ 6:23 AM
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I Never Thought It Would Happen To Me

Photo: Tonie AuerBy Tonie Auer
DFW Chapter President

While I don't mean the blog post title to be too suggestive, I really never thought I'd see the benefits of social media professionally. It was in the summer of 2008 at the ASBPE national convention in Kansas City that I started truly hearing the praises of social media.

Paul Conley told those in attendance that if they didn't join the 21st century, they'd be left behind. The curmudgeonly reporter in me listened, but with the disdain of an old-timer who still remembers pasting up galleys and working on VDTs (for you young'uns, feel free to email me and I'll tell you what those things are.) I've called my cell phone an 'electronic leash' and have resisted mobile Internet connectivity. But, I'm teetering on the ledge now.

At the insistence of the ASBPE board members, I joined LinkedIn. Then, I started to Twitter (but just a little), and Facebook came next. What has been the biggest surprise to me is how beneficial these things have been. I have had a few job leads come from LinkedIn and several bona fide jobs result from Facebook.

But, one of the greatest pluses I've found has been sources via Facebook. People see my status updates for articles I'm writing and they send leads my way. Truly, verily I say to thee: get off your duff and give it a try. Promote your publications, too, while you're at it. I just took a full-time job as a writer for Bisnow on Business (www.bisnow.com) and while launching the product expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth market, I've gained more readers for the news site/e-newsletter and I've had story leads sent my way.

So, now I'm a believer. And, Paul Conley and the ASBPE professional development planted the seed. With that said, don't forget our Digital Symposium in San Francisco this week on Friday Nov. 6. You can still register and improve your skills, too.

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Posted Monday, November 2, 2009 @ 6:55 AM
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