Serban Chinole

Yes, this is true, I am afraid of this, looks like an intrusion in my perfect body, or let us say the way I see myself.

Why in the world I would want a qualified person to check my potential sickness when I can still dream that I am perfect and untouchable.

Now, seriously, some months ago, about 10, I attempted to do this by promoting teleseminars with serious content and after 5 lukewarm encounters I said, this is not working.

We all love procedures that we know, believe that we are good in something called simple: habit.

If somebody presents us the benefits of a new procedure what is the first thing we say? No, it is natural to reject such a new and dangerous way, but hey let us look at some numbers:

300.000.000 people, about the 8th country in the world ahead Japan, this is what Facebook has today as members, 100.000.000 videos seen per day on YouTube, 1382% growth rate for Twitter January-February 2009.

So, Mr.Clooney you can be motivated more by a prostate check, I will always prefer Social Media.

For the early adopters and survivors, 3 more seats for Social Media Boot Camp, www.iconsultants.ro

Last week a young lady wrote a manifesto on Facebook asking this and calling the young generation from our country for taking political position against all the nepotism, lack of competence, or in short against current political class.

The initiative, pretty impressive and courageous in a post-communist country, which struggles right now economically, brings a whole new perspective to the Y generation and not only. What is this new perspective?

For starters is related to the power of social media and in particular Facebook to generate massive comments and movement even if many argued that she is young, too attractive and not enough credible.

The viral part started, remember that the actual White House President was supported by social media networks and the old manipulation tricks using traditional media could be expensive now.

Like it or not the power of personal branding leveraged through social media is the name of the game today. If today at only 4 days, more than 5000 followed her, words are useless, she has a point!

We hear that crisis is almost over. Some countries report that recession is over. What about us, the small business owners, how is this affecting our business strategies?

If somebody decides to start his own business faces this dilemma now, to invest in products and services and pursue potential clients and hope that sales will be significant and profit will follow.

But is this true? According to recent figures many small businesses are changing strategies, looking for a lower expenditure, in other words avoiding investing before knowing what clients need and want.

Social media is becoming the new way of pulling clients, however it is very difficult for sector experts in traditional markets to change behavior. Let us take an example from an industry, for instance a manager decides to leave a multinational firm and open the own practice. His brand is not known, but the multinational behavior is in the comfort zone. First tactics will be based on previous habits , in other words he will push hard on old relations recommending  new way of doing business.

After some months he ends up by being frustrated, the shift should come from a different mindset aligned with the use of different strategies.

I read recently that 45% on the recruiting is done through Facebook, Linked In and other smaller networks, which is more than double versus 2008. The trend is to build awareness and be found as a person, which means that the personal brand is becoming more significant than your past employers.

The next challenge is to invest time and to take action in your personal brand if you want to survive.