Even though I pledged to spend more time on Google+ back in February, I felt that it is almost completely dead as far the staffing industry is concerned.
Don’t get me wrong, Google+ is a very nice little spot. But it’s like a brand new bar that no one goes to. And the point of social media is to, obviously, socialize.
But Twitter is a completely different story. There are literally hundreds of millions of conversations going on that you can join at any time. And because tweets are so small, it’s virtually commitment-free.
Of course, all that can be a good or a bad thing depending on your ability to sift through and organize it all.
So how are most staffing companies using Twitter? Not well, I’m afraid to report. Many (especially small) staffing firms make a number of Twitter mistakes:
- Using faceless, nameless logos for an avatar;
- Tweeting nothing but job openings;
- Possessing almost no personality (and don’t even ask about humor);
- Very little to no interaction with other Twitter users.
I am making very broad generalizations here. There are hundreds of very connected staffing professionals on Twitter and I’ve tried to connect with all of them. (If I’m not following you, send me your Twitter handle.)
But the vast majority are lost, mercilessly repeating the same mistakes, and I’m not sure they see the value in it. The recruitment community is alive and well. There are tens of thousands of recruiters to connect with on Twitter. When I want to follow a bunch of new people who are talking about the workplace, HR and recruiters are top notch.
The best users of Twitter in the staffing industry right now are vendors. ATS makers, trainers and some funders are much more lively than most staffing companies are. A good example of someone who really knows how to help recruiters tweet better is @617patrick. He’s a really sharp guy with a good sense of humor.
We already know that Twitter is great for posting job openings, but it can be used for so much more. I don’t know how to make it more plain: Real people (including many CEOs) are having real conversations on Twitter and you can join them. From anywhere. You may not become BFFs right away, but you have to get to know your customer before they can become your customer – and Twitter is a great place to start.
I want to talk more about the industry with you. I want to hear your stories. I want to celebrate your successes with you. Join the conversation with me on Twitter now: @semzomultimedia