by Mike Hallaron
Hallaron Media, Houston, Texas

Believe it or not, there are still many branding managers, product managers, business owners, and even marketers sitting on the fence on whether to use Twitter. “Why do I need to use Twitter?” The better question is “How will using Twitter expand my brand and enhance my marketing strategy?” Does your company have a social media strategy in place and have you decided how and why to use social platforms in the first place? If not, revisit your marketing plan and check your calendar. It is 2012 and social media has rocked the business world. You must integrate social into your marketing plan.

Read the rest of this entry »

Create a 100% complete LinkedIn profile

Learn more about creating a LinkedIn marketing strategy

Follow us on LinkedIn

by Mike Hallaron
Hallaron Media

Depending on the size of your company you should always remember that your Facebook business page is just one tactical element of your overall marketing strategy and your comprehensive social media plan. Whether you are small one-man operation or a  large global marketer you must put together a social media plan that states why you are using social media, including Facebook and other channels such as Twitter, Slide Share, You Tube, and LinkedIn. What are your goals and expectations? How will the time and money spent on social marketing benefit your organization? If you are not sure where to start, consider working with a professional marketer to help create your plan.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Mike Hallaron
HallaronMedia.com

Most of us recognize the significant role that social giant LinkedIn plays matching job hunters and recruiters together. It’s a benefit and a powerful tool for both parties. However, what about all of the other information we post and respond to on Facebook, Stumble Upon, Twitter, You Tube, Slideshare, etc… from behind the safety of our keyboards and monitors or smartphones? It appears that the online identities we create do not live entirely within a secure, protective bubble. Who knew? This social info can actually come back to bite us in the butt when searching for a new gig.

Erica Swallow writing for Mashable.com reports that a recent study finds “more than 90% of recruiters have visited a potential candidate’s profile on a social network as part of the screening process.” That is a staggering number. I would say this qualifies as the norm now. The impact of which upon active social media users can surely be guessed. It is the new “social background check.”

So, should job seekers unfriend, dislike, and unfollow all at once? Probably not but you should be aware that others are reading and judging you based on what you write and the way they perceive your on-line personality. Be aware that your next career move may hinge on that racy You Tube video you posted.

One more tidbit from the study: “…a whopping 69% of recruiters have rejected a candidate based on content found on his or her social networking profiles.” I think we already knew this bomb was coming. So beware if a new job hunt is in your near future.

Read Erica’s article [INFOGRAPHIC] here: http://mashable.com/2011/10/23/how-recruiters-use-social-networks-to-screen-candidates-infographic/