It’s Me – Roberta

Welcome to my Social Network Landing Page and Occasional Personal Blog

Who am I?

See the About Me Tab above for a full bio or click on one of my social networks to the right.

How do I use Social Networks?

This is all explained in my Social Policy but I have decided that my main focus is not for marketing or even building my brand.  I like social networks because as an introvert (talkative gregarious on MBTI) I like the ability to connect with others but not in person.  I like them because I can learn from others and when I stumble across something interesting, I can immediately “Twurl” or “Hootlet” it out to the Twitter universe. (Actually, not the universe as I am not always on the public timeline but that is another story.)  It is in the moment – I don’t plan my tweets and schedule them for distribution with “TweetLater” which has become “SocialOomph”.  (Sometimes I come across a series of quotes I like and rather than bombard everyone at one time,  I schedule them over a few days. I do schedule blog post sometimes as well.)  I don’t retweet everything a couple of hours later – you either got it or you didn’t. Sometimes I do track  them so I can see what my contacts find interesting. So on the weekend, I may retweet one item that people found particularly interesting.

How my Social Networking is evolving?

I have never been one for “chat”. I don’t have an IM account and while I may send a quick chat to someone on Skype to se if they are available, I don’t like using it for any conversations.  However, I have found that a private DM once in awhile with someone I know on Twitter has proved to be a wonderful quick chat and a great way to touch bases.

It is fair to say that I am obsessed with my iPhone and all the applications.  I have at least 8 specifically for social networks and I do like to tweet or do a Facebook update sometimes when I am “on the road”.  It is particularly fun to send a photo or link of where I am.

When is the Social Network too limiting?

Occasionally, I have a short exchange with someone and it becomes clear that we need to go “off line” and then a serous of longer emails and in a blue moon a Skype call will occur.  From here our connection goes deeper. Social networks are merely the possibilities of something deeper and more meaningful.  They only scratch the surface of wht is real.  I have met a couple of people for coffee in the flesh after having corresponded through Twitter or LinkedIn.

There are times when I would love to expound on some article or post that I have read. Knowing that it is unlikely that I will “get back to it”, I find that putting up a quick tweet or a short update on Facebook and this becomes an acceptable compromise.  If I can see a logical – even if it is tenuous – connection to my “professional” blogs and I find the time, I will elaborate and post it.

Once in a while I come across something that has much more of a personal story and element to it.  If it is not of a private nature and I want to “record” it somewhere – I have been at a loss.  It is with this in mind that I will write my own journey of discovery and post them here.  They are more for my own edification and so the path to find them may not be obvious.

Why is my Twitter Account sometimes locked?

This is a long and involved story but simply, I found myself loosing “control” over my Twitter account.  I kept getting more and more followers and unless it was an obvious spam, I felt an obligation to follow back.  I was being reminded regularly (read pestered) to follow someone that I didn’t want to follow.  It wasn’t until I took the time to really review how I wanted to use my social networks that I decided to go private for a while.  It is a big conundrum for me . . . how many are too many to follow and should I have a limit on how many follow me?  See more by clicking my Social Policy Tab above.

What made me choose this WordPress theme?

I searched through many themes and actually downloaded a number that looked very professional or had a “Twitter” feel.  The truth is that when I saw this design, Desk Mess, I knew in order for me to be authentic, I would have to select it.  The title says it all.  It is SO me: right down to my love affair with my iPhone, our car keys, pen, money and that picture of Paris.   (I took one just like it.) OK, I am not sure about the unicorn and star necklace but you would be surprised with all the knick knacks and papers on my desk.  And maybe it is usually a cup of coffee and not tea, but the spill is real.

Disclaimer: Just because I may have an account with a social networking service like the ones listed to the right does NOT mean that I use or support or recommend them. I do use the services listed in the sections – “My Key Social Networks”.

Tags: roberta hill