And...Action!: Facebook

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Friday, March 18, 2011

entertainment industry coach question 743:How can you get yourself known on the web, without seeming annoying or cheesy?

Sometimes the way y'all phrase your questions, cracks me up! Let me address the later part of that question since it's what's helping me fill my laugh quota for today...

If you are not annoying or cheesy, you will not be perceived that way. I'm going to go out on a limb, and guess that you're neither of those. Because if you were, you wouldn't recognize the annoyances and cheesiness of others, and therefore, you wouldn't recognize the need to NOT be like them. So, go easy on yourself, and don't do anything that you find annoying or cheesy.

Ways to get yourself noticed on the web that are professional, effective and a smart way to market:

1. Create a website that honestly represents what you do professionally, makes it easy for people to find the information on you that they want, and showcases your best attributes.

*NOTE: if you are not website building savvy, and will spend a lot of time learning as you build, I suggest what my mentor Loral Langemeier says, "Strengthen your strengths, pay for your weaknesses." It's better to spend money on a professional web designer, so you can spend YOUR time generating money with your professional strengths. I recommend Kathy Hoffman athttp://www.hoffmansites.com. Tell her you're my client. She's very reasonable and very reliable.

2. Get on Social Networking Sites like: Facebook, Twitter, Linked in. Make informative or inquisitive posts on people's walls.

For example: a camera operator needed an AC. He posted his request on my wall and on my Greenlight Coach Group wall, and found his AC through my friends network. (hint, hint, if you're reading this you should be friend requesting me on FB, joining my fan page, LinkingIn with me, and following me on Twitter.

3. Write an informative blog or create a podcast.

4. Post videos of yourself (demonstrating /teaching/ working) on YouTube. No dancing to a montage of music from the 80's... that's cheesy (the only exception is: if you're a professional dancer).

5. Post informative comments AND success stories on other people's blogs, like this one! Or www.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com. This gets you recognized as an expert in your field, in a community of like-minded people.

If you have more detailed questions about any of the above, post it on my comments section and I'll answer it as a separate question.

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Sunday, February 27, 2011

entertainment industry coach question 724: Is it okay to walk up to someone you know from Facebook but never met?

Is it okay? It's the beauty of social media. On Friday I was at a networking event and a guy walked up next to me and I instantly thought I knew him, like he was my buddy. Before he could introduce himself, I said, "Facebook friend!" We talked for a while, and it was so easy because he does comment on my posts so we know things about each other. Isn't that what a friend is? Someone who knows what's going on in your life and cares enough to talk to you about it. These days it doesn't have to be a phone call or an email. It can be someone in your Facebook friends who was once a stranger, telling you that he/she sends good thought to you when you've lost someone, or tells you to eat when you post that you haven't eaten all day, or has an Anchorman quote showdown with you on your wall.

I find the industry getting much smaller thanks to Facebook. Last year I attended the SOC awards at which many of the members in attendance were at the time, only Facebook friends. Now they've become friends and business associates.

Absolutely walk up to the person and say, "hey, we're Facebook friends!" BUT as always, be professional about it. If the person appears to be having an important business lunch--- not the time.

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Friday, February 25, 2011

entertainment industry coach question 722: How do I know if someone has un-friended me on Facebook?

You just go to their page and if it says, "add so-and-so" as a friend, and he/she had been a friend, you've been unfriended.

There are many reasons why someone "un-friends" you, other than their significant other no longer wants you writing on their wall or you're a stalker. I chose to answer this question today, because 4 TIMES this week, I've had people put their dang links on my wall without my permission. The first three I un-friended immediately. The fourth, I wrote on her wall "my rules" if you will. She just became my friend so she hasn't seen my rants about Facebook Etiquette. Maybe she won't like my rules and un-friend me. But here's the deal people.

I was also informed that some people have been hacked, hence the people posting on my wall about getting a free iPad. These should be marked as SPAM, and if you care, you can let the person know that he/she has been hacked and should change his/her password (Thank you to Andrea for clearing that up for me).

BE PROFESSIONAL ON FACEBOOK!!!

1. Quit hitting work colleagues with pillows, sending them prayers, and offering to plant crap in their garden! I don't care about your Mafia Wars!!!!

2. DO NOT ADVERTISE (yes advertise because that's what you're doing when you put your link on MY wall) without permission. Anyone want to check out Juliet Landau's documentary on Gary Oldmanhttp://www.julietlandaustakeflight.com./ go ahead, and she can post on my wall, because she's my client and has my permission.

3. DON'T POST your party pictures that make you look like a moron or a slut (even if you think you look hot in the picture). Now I post my pictures from Halloween or with heavy metal groups because people in the industry who like heavy metal, connect with me on that.

I'm not trying to be mean, and the girl who posted on my wall has already apologized. I just want you to realize how these actions can REALLY HURT YOUR CAREER. She's still my friend. The other 3... got the boot (steel tipped for my heavy metal followers).

And to think, my questionee was just wondering who was de-friending him. Don't worry about who doesn't want to be your friend, focus and nurture the friends you have by being respectful and professional.

Friday, February 18, 2011

entertainment industry coach question 715: I've been in the biz for 35 yrs how can you coach when every thing's changed?

I imagine in your 35 years in the business you've seen many periods of change, including multiple strikes, runaway production, ever-changing technology. With all of these changes how can I not coach? You see, the new people breaking in, haven't been through what you have, so they are going after their careers like "this is the way it is." For them, I coach them on the basic business tools to grow their business that EVERYBODY needs, no matter the climate or changes of the industry.

I do my best to keep up with the changes by speaking to Centers of Influence in the Industry and communicating what I'm hearing and how you can prepare for changes. For people like you, who've been in the industry a long time, I must (pardon the expression) "teach old dogs new tricks." Most people don't like change and resist it too long, hoping that the "money-spenders" will come to their senses and keep things as they were. By the time they realize that's not going to happen, a new crop of ____________(insert your classification) have jumped on the "change" bandwagon, and are getting hired on the jobs that used to be yours.

So I coach people who want to embrace the changes, move with them, and keep working. I also coach people who are starting from right now, empowering them with tools that will help them through future changes which they will encounter. As a coach, I change with the times too. Do you think a decade ago I was coaching clients to market themselves with social media? No. The people who are resisting the change, "fighting joining Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, & YouTube" are losing out on massive opportunities and losing work because of it!

If you are resisting change, and frustrated that things aren't what they used to be, I suggest you change your attitude and start looking for ways to be a part of the change.

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Thursday, January 27, 2011

entertainment industry coach question 693:Is it appropriate to connect to someone on Facebook who you don't know but share friends?

That's the beauty of Facebook, my friend. In fact you just reminded me to send a note to someone I met because I friended him since we had mutual friends. The irony was, I friended him based on the 3 people, whom I think the world of, so I figured he must be a great person too. Turns out he didn't even know them, but he was still a great person.

The key is to be professional. Don't just send a friend request, add a personal note saying that:

You share mutual friends and/or you're in the biz and/or something complimentary about something they've worked on.

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For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Monday, December 27, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 663:why do so many people ignore my friend requests on Facebook?

Facebook is used by different people for different reasons. I personally use Facebook for getting back in touch with friends and family whom I wouldn't otherwise be in touch with and to help people in the entertainment industry.

When I get a friend request from a friend or family member, accepting their request is a no-brainer. But here's were it gets tricky (and I've changed the way I approach new friends because of it). When I get a friend request from someone who doesn't send a message and we have a no friends in common (or maybe even a few), I immediately look them up to see if they are in the industry. If they are, I accept the friend request. Many people, however, have privacy settings, so I can't see any information about them. I ignore those. The bottom line is, my Facebook page is open to the public, so they can read my blogs and get my information. If they want to be my friend, I want to know why.

For me, it's not a race to see who can have the most friends. If a stranger wants to friend me I want to know why. In the past year, I've sent friend requests to many camera people whose names I've known from the Guild. I knew I had value to offer them as a friend because I blog every day. Still, because I didn't send a message, a few wrote to me before accepting and asked who I was and how I knew them. When I told them I knew their name for years because I worked at the Guild, it put their mind at ease, and they accepted.

If you want more people to consider your requests, I suggest sending a message as to why you want to be their friend. It could say something like, "we have mutual friends in the business and it's always nice to meet like-minded people," or, "I work as a ____ and you are a ____, I enjoy connecting my friends when opportunities present themselves."

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Sunday, December 12, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 647: How do I react when 2 out of 80 calls I make per day are returned?

The question continued: "I've been in Europe for a few years where people call you back immediately. When I returned to the states, I found that people prefer to use email or social media. This is very impersonal to me. What do you recommend?"

I recommend giving the people what they want. A year ago, I was struggling to get people in our industry to set up a Facebook page. Now it's how people get to know each other. You can't fight the trends. I knew it was coming, so I teach people about it. I'm actually spending my holiday getting up to speed on LinkedIn after seeing a great young speaker talk about the networking benefits on it. I always thought it was basically an online resume. I was so wrong.

So embrace the trends, and you can still get very personal with people via social media. Everything ebbs and flows. Eventually people will get tired of spending so much time at their computer and want to have human contact again or hear a friendly voice on the phone. But until then, give the people what they want. And as far as those 2 people who call you back... THEY are your "people." They are like-minded and enjoy phone contact. So those are the people who you deepen relationships with in your preferred style. The rest will be contacts whom you're not as close with, but still contribute to your career path.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Thursday, November 25, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 631: What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

This wasn't a question sent to me by one of you, it was a Facebook status shared by a friend who got about 54 responses. Here's why that's important (but first my favorite tradition):

My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is eating twice. I love Thanksgiving food, and for some reason it's one of those holidays that although called "Thanksgiving Dinner," always winds up being served between 3-4pm. In my book that's lunch. But it's all good because, while I do stuff myself, I don't have to go too far, because I know I'm going to get to eat it all again around 9pm. Then I'm stuffed. That doesn't stop me from having it for breakfast though. And when it's all gone, I wonder, "why can't I just make these dishes when it's not Thanksgiving?" I resolve to do it, but never do.

1. It's important, because people, myself included, like to share their stories, hence the 54 responses (which I'm sure have doubled since I read it this morning).

2. If you know that people respond to these types of questions, you can ask them on your FB wall and get to know your "friends" better. If you're working to know your entertainment industry "friends" better, you will change the question to: What have you done on Thanksgiving, when you were on a job and away from home?

See how easy it is to connect with people in a deeper way?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm grateful that you're out there reading my posts and sending me questions so I can be of service to you.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Thursday, October 28, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 603:When I do BG work I bond with the AD and 2nd AD but don't know how to send a a thank you card to them.

And by BG she is referring to background work. Anytime you create a relationship with someone, you can ask for their contact information. You can be cute and say, "at the risk of ruining the surprise, I'd like to send you a thank you note. How might I send that to you?" They may respond with their address, or give you an email, or their card with the info on it.

If they say, "you don't have to do that," listen very closely to HOW they are saying it. If they are a bit stand-offish, like "I don't want to give this person my contact information," then just drop it and look them up on Facebook a week later. Send them a friend request with a reminder of where you met. If you don't know their last name, try to get a call sheet (If they are a "green set" their call sheet may be on an iPad, and you'll have to use some detective work).

If they say it in a way that they are just being modest, say, "well, I've really enjoyed meeting you and would like to stay in contact. You never know when I may be able to help you connect with someone for another job you may be seeking, etc." Then ask for a card and if they don't have one ask if they'd like to write down their contact info or connect on Facebook.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Sunday, October 24, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 599: As a parent, how do I find time to use social networking like Facebook?

Great question! Your time is valuable so allocate what works for your life. My suggestion would be 15 minutes at least 2 times per week. This gives you enough time to update your status, reach out to industry connections, and comment and "Like" people's statuses whom you follow.

Facebook can be a real time suck, especially in the beginning when you start searching for people from your past, but it wears off... or not, and if not, have a schedule and keep to it.

I think that social networking is a free, easy, non-threatening way to market yourself and create relationships and should not be neglected as part of your business tool belt.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 595: Do I need a Facebook "Like/Fan" page?

This is a personal question. There are bells and whistles you can use on a "like" page, that you can't use on your personal page, the question is do you have time to maintain two pages? I have a "like" page that I don't maintain because I haven't figured out what value I can offer "fans" that I don't already offer on my regular page.

I feel people get to know me personally on my personal page, and some of that is lost on a "like" page. This is more of a "throw some spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks." If it works for you and you have time for both, then there's no reason not to do it. When I hit 5000 friends, I'll have no choice, but to move people over, so I'm still trying to decide when the time is right to start converting people over.

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

Thursday, October 14, 2010

entertainment industry coach question 588: Why would you as a career coach do a set visit?

This is from a Facebook reader who saw my post about doing a set visit on Modern Family. Well as both a career coach and an industry professional, I practice what I preach. I do set visits to see clients as well as (in today's case) to visit friends who work on shows I LOVE.

I've already blogged on reasons to do set visits, so you can read those in the archives. Here's why I personally love set visits and what I especially loved about today. When you target specific shows you love, you get to meet the people who create the "magic" and learn from the masters of the craft. I was privileged to spend 4 hours in video village observing the interaction, between Steve Levitan (Creator/Exec Producer), Adam Shankman (Director), James Bagdonas (Director of Photography) and the two writers of the episode. To witness the creative process, the "on-the-fly" problem solving which comes with every public location (and closed sets as well), and the professional yet fun way, these men handled every situation was both inspiring and invigorating. There's a reason why shows like Modern Family are great- the team making it happen.

There is so much to learn not only from a technical point of view but in addition, from the confidence of experience, how respectfully they speak to each other, how they handle the "unexpected" and turn it into something spectacular, these are gems that you can apply to your future endeavors.

Anyone with "negative issues" about set visits- you are getting in your own way! Put your ego aside and allow yourself to bathe in the inspiration that is everywhere when you surround yourself with this caliber of talent!