Research indicates that over 51% of online users have joined a social network, while 73% are consuming some form of social content on a regular basis.
There are hundreds of social networking sites but currently the most widely used by adults are Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It is up to you to determine why you want to join, and how you will use the website effectively. Do you want to use it personally or professionally?

Professionally: In business we use social networking sites to stay in contact with, and maintain a list of people we know in our current and past business lives. The sites can also help us build our careers, and promote our businesses as well.

Personally: Social network websites are used as an outlet to share almost anything from your every move, to photos, recipes, and any other personal information you want to share.

Here’s a list of etiquette tips for social networking aimed to polish the social or professional networker.

• First, refrain from using the same social network for personal and professional use. Set up two different profiles or accounts for these connections. Create a section on your main profile detailing whom you are seeking to befriend.

• Complete your profile with accurate information about you and your business. Use your real name and your own photo. Pick a screen name that represents you and your company well. Don't call yourself "Lovebug" unless you want to be known by that name, and your pet may be adorable, but unless you specializing in pet care, use your own photo.

• Offer information of value. Refrain from just talking about yourself and your company. Succinctly write interesting and timely information that will be of benefit to others.

• Do not approach strangers and ask them to be friends in order to try to sell them on your talents, ideas, products or services. You will quickly lose credibility.

• Don't send out requests for invitations to play online games, take personality tests, or other timewasters for those using the site.

• Avoid putting anything on the Internet that you don't want your boss, future boss, current client, or potential clients to read.

• If someone does not want to be your friend, accept it gracefully. They have the right to make that decision and you must accept it.

• Never post when you are exhausted, inebriated, jet-lagged, angry, or upset.

• Do not over-post or over tweet. Your audience will become very tired of you and your information may not be taken seriously and perhaps will even be skipped over.

Social networking gives you a voice to your audience and ears to hear what they have to say to you… And the beautiful part is - you can do all this at your convenience!  

And as we say on Twitter … Always Tweet others the way you want to be Tweeted!

You can follow Joy at http://twitter.com/SociallySavvy

Joy Weaver is a nationally renowned etiquette expert, speaker, spokesperson, and author of Just Ask Joy… How to Be Socially Savvy in All Situations—a book highly endorsed by Jean and Zig Ziglar. Joy represents designer Joseph Ribkoff and is a regular guest on ABC’s Good Morning Texas. She is nationally published and has been featured on ABC’s The View, in the Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Southern Living Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and The Dallas Business Journal. Protocol Enterprises/Just Ask Joy is based in Dallas and has served clients across the country since 2000. You can learn more at www.justaskjoy.com or visit her blog at www.allthingsrefined.blogspot.com.

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