How Do You Smile On The Internet.

Social Media has created a faster way to communicate but it hasn't taken the place and value of the face-to-face meeting. In the fast-paced world, it is hard to get away, drive through heavy traffic to meet in what was supposed to be a " new networking" event. You know the one, a handshake, a business card, and a plate full of calories. Then you go back to the office or home and you wind up with a drawer full of cards. Something has happened to the sit-down, have a cup of coffee and get to know you face-to-face times. Some organizations have started to change by a member sharing business a business card with another and later on calling and meeting over lunch or coffee. And, in the meantime, we continue our Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Google.

So how can we better communicate with this new communication wonder? It can start with you.
All the sites have a place for you to upload your picture called an avatar. This too can be a problem.
I like to see who I am talking to, but then I see something that looks like an egghead. It is hard to communicate by looking at an egghead. Then there are avatars of babies, animals and all sorts of things.
This is fine on Facebook for families sharing pictures and honoring members of their families. The avatar should be you and you can upload pictures as well. Besides, if you keep changing your avatar how do you expect people to recognize you? But if you are in business it would be nice to see who you are communicating with. It is acceptable to show a logo of a company like AT& T or other large corporations that have built a respectable business and have many employees.

The Avatar sets the tone of your message. Remember, when the telephone was the newest way to communicate your business? You were taught to give the conversation your undivided attention and put a smile in your voice. Social media calls for putting a smile on your message. So how do you do that? You put a smiling avatar up. Let people see a genuine smile.

The egghead avatar has caused me to encourage a change by creating a "Grandma Grin Award" I try to publish each week, Put a smiling avatar with your message.

Social Media-It's A Good Thing.

Social media has taken the world by storm. The new technology is fast moving and proving it is for all ages, anytime, anywhere.  But is all this fast moving communication all good?

First of all, let me share some good things I have learned

Social media affords you many new friends around the globe. You can talk each day; there are many group chats about subjects you are interested in and you can research so much faster than visiting a library.

There are so many things to learn about this new vast communication network.  You learn to write more concisely and you review your spelling lessons.  Most screens allow you to correct your spelling before posting. You can learn to journal and find the stories you want to tell. There are many who learn to cook by searching food websites online.  Savings coupons are downloaded online and, of course, shopping online is growing, but there are some downsides to this distant communication.

How do you build trust and respect over cyberspace? Here are some thoughts:

Face-to-face communication is the best way to build trust and respect. When telephoning became the new way to communicate and do business we learned how to give our undivided attention to the conversation and learned how to put a smile in our voice. Cyberspace gives you the ability to see who you are talking to through the use of the avatar. So what do you see in avatars you encounter?  Have you noticed the ones that look like eggheads?  Who wants to talk to an egghead? Seeing an avatar showing an animal flower or a child’s picture is far better than being face to face with the egg head. Well-known brand logos like AT&T is the face of a large company we all recognize and is acceptable. Post an avatar of self helps build that integrity and respect.

The last on the not so good list are all the hackers, spammers, and scammers that appear. Social media has created a monster because dishonesty is quick and hard to trace. Be careful. Follow the rules of social media safety.

Today social media is the way to learn, and grow personally, professionally, and politically. What you do, what you say, and how you say it is all important in building respect and integrity. “Your mouth is full of what’s in your heart” The smiling avatar has been so much a crusade for me that I developed a “Grandma Grin Award” I issue in social media to the person with the most genuine warm smiling avatar. This I award each week.

And I will close on a good note: “Connecting, caring and sharing is a good thing”.