I think this can help us! Got it from LinkedIn.


Twitter is so red-hot right now that it's united Shaq and Oprah. It's also so good at attracting buzzwords that I can't decide whether to call it a microblogging service or a social-networking Web site. But it doesn't really matter what you call it, or whether you prefer to follow Ashton Kutcher or Britney Spears. What matters is that users are taking to Twitter in massive numbers. And your business should be there, too.

Read More: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente..._business.html

Yes, I like Twitter and it did take me a little while to understand it. I agree with everything on that list although I do use auto follow and DM but I don't promote my business and products with it like many others do. I just thank people for following me and that I hope to see them tweeting often.

I actually have a slightly different slant for us to think about though. Should VAs be tweeting for their clients?

I have very strong views about this and have over the past 2 or 3 years had clients wanting me to be 'them' and network for them online via various tools such as Facebook, Linkedin, etc. I refuse - I won't pretend to be someone else although I will assist in setting up social networking profiles.

I've just written about this topic after seeing an article about 10 mins ago that suggests business people should engage a VA to do their tweeting for them. But I did think I'd like your thoughts on it too - perhaps some of you do network for your clients and do it successfully and it works for you and them - if so, I'd love to hear that side of it too.


http://vadirectory.net/blog/2009/05/...-for-a-client/

Kathie,

I agree with you about being the client on social networking. Of course I have posted article links and information for my client but it was up to the to follow through on the conversation. I don't mind "forwarding" or "funneling" information for them but don't feel it is right to be them. Just my 2 cents and I too am anxious to hear what others are saying since I am not a social media VA.

__________________
Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I don't think I'd take that one either, I would hate to say something and then have the person come back and deny ever saying it or whatever. You see a lot of celebrities out there and most of them are not the real celebrity, I wouldn't want to be confused with an impersonator or even accused of being one.

What do the experts think?

Originally Posted by NikAssist

I don't think I'd take that one either, I would hate to say something and then have the person come back and deny ever saying it or whatever. You see a lot of celebrities out there and most of them are not the real celebrity, I wouldn't want to be confused with an impersonator or even accused of being one. What do the experts think?

I was chatting to my husband about this last night. He says he feels it's 'social fraud' and while not a chargeable offence, the reality is that it's deceiving people. I hadn't even gotten around to thinking about it that way but I knew I did not feel comfortable 'pretending' to be someone and felt that it wasn't ethical. Comments on my blog are showing that others think similarly but not all and it is good to hear both sides of the equasion.

All the same, it's not a practice I'm about to take up.

I, too, am interested to see where this discussion goes, and would be particularly interested to hear the opinions of VAs that perform social media management for their clients. I agree with those who've said that to tweet for clients crossed the deception line. What makes it blurry, though (at least to me, at this point), is how it differs from someone having one of their own employees do it. I still don't think it's something I'd like to dabble in, but as I said, I'd be interested to hear from some people who've been doing it.

--Samantha

Originally Posted by Samantha T

I, too, am interested to see where this discussion goes, and would be particularly interested to hear the opinions of VAs that perform social media management for their clients. I agree with those who've said that to tweet for clients crossed the deception line. What makes it blurry, though (at least to me, at this point), is how it differs from someone having one of their own employees do it. I still don't think it's something I'd like to dabble in, but as I said, I'd be interested to hear from some people who've been doing it. --Samantha

When you say 'employee' Samantha, do you mean like a corporation? I expect they're seen as acting on behalf of that corporation but not any private individual. VAs for the most part are servicing individual business owners and often 'personalities' and are therefore acting for that individual. I honestly couldn't say that I would know how to respond even on behalf of my longest term client (12 years). She could/would react to someone's tweet in a totally different way to me so to tweet for her and reply/respond for her just wouldn't come naturally.

I can and do set up tweetlater which will feed client blogs to their Twitter accounts but again, those posts are their own - I've just loaded them for them. I have another client who wants me to pretend to be him to help build up interest in his brand but I've refused to do this and have explained to him the importance of him connecting personally with others.

Kathie, it could be a corporation, or even a smaller company where, let's say, the owner has his admin tweet for him. (Hmmm... that doesn't sound good, does it? ) Like you, I feel that it's important to network directly, rather than have other people come up with the content for you, and that your style in responding to tweets, etc., could be completely different than theirs. The challenge may be to get the clients to see things that way.

--Samantha

If I were tweeting and subsequently learned that an imposter -- an employee, or anyone -- had been "behind the curtain," I would certainly feel deceived.
Janet

This issue is often discussed, but to me, it's not so complicated. If a client wants me to do tweets or other updates, I'm speaking as a representative of the company. I refer to "we" and "us," rather than "me" or "I." How is it really any different from interacting with anyone on your client's behalf? I would never pretend to be the client herself; my 'voice' is that of the company.

How can this be personal? You respond to interactions with personal warmth and interest. You follow through. You don't necessarily talk a lot about your own life, but you still share in an authentic way.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com