What has your experience with social media been like?

Guest Blogger: Jay, 36, Associate Creative Director

Social media is a relatively new experience for me, but one that I’ve embraced quite quickly. It was something that “all the other kids were doing”, so I thought I’d better join in or get left behind.

Currently, I’m on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. I’m also an active blog reader, especially the one my wife maintains about our children and their daily adventures.

I’m most active on Facebook and use it as a way to keep in touch with family and friends. It has become a daily activity, like checking email. Most recently, I’ve had a fantastic time reconnecting with old classmates from high school. Like so many of us experience, time and distance tend to wear away at old friendships. Facebook removed those barriers and has brought many good friends back together. I’ve even managed to get talked into helping plan our 20th class reunion, which might not have happened without those connections I’ve made online.

Seeing how much has changed in 20 years never ceases to amaze me, and I look forward to reconnecting with my old classmates in person.

LinkedIn has been a great resource to connect with other creative professionals in my field. I’ve found that professional organizations that I belong to (the NH Creative Club most readily comes to mind) have also set up LinkedIn groups, which adds another dimension to the relationships that I’ve developed. It’s been a good balance by keeping the monthly meetings loose and social (and less “networky”), while having the professional information handy should you need it.

It was a work colleague who led me to Twitter. I follow a few friends from work, some creative professionals, and updates from Walt Disney World. (Yep, even Mickey Mouse tweets about goings on at the parks).
I’m a pretty infrequent Twitterer however. I guess that stems from my lack of a multi-functional mobile device. I’m one of those people who still uses a cell phone for making calls, and that’s about it.

For me, the best thing about online social media is that it gives me the opportunity to grow those relationships that I have when I’m away from the computer. Getting the chance to reconnect with an old high school friend over dinner, making plans with the guys to see a baseball game, or setting up an outing with families in our kids’ playgroup–social media sites afford me a greater line of communication with those I want to connect with in a face-to-face manner. I’m a big believer that we need to keep the “social” in social media.

Jay likes this–”Thumbs up”.