Do IT Pros Need Social Media?
May 10th, 2011
By Erika Pryor, Ph.D.
It’s a big mistake to assume just because you're an IT professional you are also an active social media user. But should you be?
IT professionals should absolutely be active social media users, but as a digital media strategist -- I’m biased. In fact, it’s absolutely essential for any professional with plans to move through a career path, find a new position or become more involved in their local community to be active in social media.
There are those that say, "I’m not interested in reading about every agonizingly boring moment of your life - especially since I don’t even like you that much." Others might say to themselves (with all due sarcasm) "I’m sure my life is richer now that I know exactly what 50 people are eating for dinner. Thank you Twitter!"
So, let me set the record straight.
If you are connected with interesting people leading dynamic lives, attending community events, supporting life-changing charities, or generally doing cool stuff, you’ll find your Facebook news feed or Twitter stream very engaging. However, if you are connected to people and the most exciting activity in their week is hitting the Piggly Wiggly - then yeah, social media can seem like a waste of time.
Also, as I'm sure you know, social media networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and blogging can be excellent outlets for personal branding. In this economy it is important, now more than ever, that professionals in your industry know who you are and what you can do.
The moral of the story is you, the social media user, determines who to connect with and what type of information you want to post and receive.
Matt Lydy, senior network administrator for NetJets said, “Twitter is first and foremost my primary social network. It is the area where I feel I can communicate with the most freedom since its relegated to certain friends and colleagues from around the world.”
So, should you, as an IT professional, be an active social media user? Only you can answer that for yourself. But remember what you tell clients or co-workers when it comes to advocating for expensive IT advancements and upgrades: "Do we want to be identified as thought leaders in our industry of trend followers? If thought leader is the answer, than we have to make changes."
Those same guidelines apply: if you want to be identified as a thought leader in your industry and connect with people from around the world who are doing exciting work, be an active social media user - connected to the people that matter.
Erika Pryor, Ph.D.
