I use LinkedIn. A lot. In fact, I suspect I'm connected to many of the readers of this magazine. I use it to stay on top of what colleagues are doing. Who is working for a new company. Who has gone out on their own. Who is posting something I'm interested in. I also post on LinkedIn a lot. Usually an article that I think has general appeal among my connections. Something on health reform, a new study on employee benefits, maybe the latest on digital health. The things I post usually come from various news feeds that I follow daily. And every post I make to LinkedIn also posts on my Twitter account.
So, in my own small world, I've built an operation that allows me to take in large amounts information, process it, and efficiently disseminate selected pieces to a wide circle of colleagues. Sometimes people like what I've posted enough to distribute it to their connections. I do this from my desktop. But I also do it from my iPad and my iPhone. Always connected, I tap into this network at will.
That's what we're really talking about when we talk about social media. It's about efficiently, even effortlessly, using this new interconnected world of technology to our advantage. It's about staying connected to colleagues and to customers. It's really not hard. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. Start today.
How can using social media help or hurt a brokerage's business?
BEVERLY BEATTIE
If used consistently and responsibility, social media can reach large numbers of prospects and centers of influence and be used to establish credibility in our marketplace.
MARK GAUNYA
Using social media can help a brokerage firm create an interactive on-line presence and build brand awareness.
GEORGE LANE
I think there is risk in relying too heavily on it. There is still no better substitute for the personal touch and receiving word-of-mouth referrals.
THOM MANGAN
Social Media can be a huge asset to a brokerage if the content is both good and without a sales push.
