No matter how fair or unfair it is, you are being judged. Yes, it’s your private life and yes, you should be able to do as you please. And you can. But you’re still being judged. Why not make this work in your favor? (My suggestion doesn’t involve cool whip).

In the future we’ll be talking more about developing a focused online presence that showcases who you are and what you can do, but for now, let’s keep it simple.

Be respectful – when you’re writing and commenting online, be decent to the other guy. I listened in on an online HVAC talk forum the other day. There was a technician who is in his early twenties participating in a discussion with senior techs. As the conversation begins to degenerate, the tech has this to say: “but anyway too all the grumpy guys who are talking about me *middle fingers*”

The grumpy guys are mostly senior technicians who, if treated with respect, would give this guy the world. If I were a service manager and thinking about hiring this twenty-something year old, and I discovered what he said online, I wouldn’t give him one more second of consideration.

Help people out – In this same online discussion two or three other technicians are offering the young tech advice, encouraging him to be respectful. If as a hiring service manager I came upon these guys online, I would want to know more about them.

If you participate in an online forum or comment on someone’s blog or write on your Facebook page, always try to help people out.

Online security settings – Most communities like Facebook, allow you to set your own security settings. This way you can only allow access to people you know. Make sure to make adjustments accordingly.

Lets say you realized that your online behavior will cost you the opportunity to get jobs. While it’s impossible to go back and erase what you’ve done, first, begin to help people online. Or if you have little experience, demonstrate online that you are a student who wants to learn. After awhile a pattern of good behavior will emerge online. A competent hiring manager will notice this. You’ll still have a lot of work to do, in regards to your previous behavior, but at least you will not be a victim of the DELETE key.

The reason that I am talking about Gary here at The Technician Shop is that many readers who operate contracting companies have found themselves at an intersection with social media. Many are making the mistake of selling instead of being involved. Here is some quick verbiage that I cut out of a Tweet this morning:

see our site at www….hvac.com – coupons, information, etc. call us with any questions or problems!

This is exactly what you do not want to do! With so much noise out there about social media, I recommend that you check Gary out because the simple points he makes (in Jeff’s article). Once you get your mind around these core concepts, working with social media will make sense and cents.

Technician take-away lesson: Don’t run around and tell everyone what a great tech you are and what you can do. Instead, just go out and do it. Video or write about your work and then share what you’ve learned with others – especially your teammates!!

I believe that important and meaningful business and life lessons can be learned from unconventional sources. One needs to approach work and life with an open mind. Visit a grocery store, observe employees and learn customer service lessons that will help you in your technician role. Same for a restaurant experience or a conference with your kid’s kindergarten teacher.

Originally, I had not planned on talking about social media here. Although, in fact, my entire model for The Technician Shop is based on the concept of personal branding. One of personal branding’s most influential mediums is social media. I thought the use of social media might be too much for the hard working technician who was trying to better himself. I don’t think I have the right to make that call. So, going forward I am creating a social media category.

My first bit on social media is about marketing your business with your blog.

But Daaaaave, I’m a technician. I don’t have a business.

Remember what I said about learning from unconventional sources? And besides, in the future I am going to recommend to you, Mr. Hard Working Technician, that you build your own Web site anyhow. Might as well get a leg up on this stuff. If you are an owner or manager, see what folks outside of your trade are doing with social media.

Today’s link comes from Darren Rowse of ProBlogger: 13 Tips for Marketing Your Business With Your Blog

Duct Tape Marketing

Free e-book from Duct Tape Marketing on social media for business

Barack 2.0 Barack Obama’s social media lessons for business

Barack 2.0 (the book)

Organizing for America – The main Web site that Barack Obama used (and is still using) for his campaign efforts. Note the links on the first page (lower right hand side) to the various social media outlets that he used.

Social media marketing from Copyblogger

Social media marketing from Chris Brogan

Where social media is going from Read Write Web

Social media sites from Career Overview

The following are links to books that I recommended:

HVAC Spells Wealth by Ron Smith

Inside Contracting by The Service Roundtable

Do You Matter? How great design will make people love your company by Robert Brunner & Stewart Emery

Socialnomics How social media the way we live and do business by Erik Qualman