Is it time to use social media in your signature block?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:05:55 -0400

Many business professionals use linkedin and other social media sites to network with other professionals outside of their immediate network. Some leaders have started to include their organizations facebook page as a way to build their image in their signature block. Is it time for more people to start adding social media to their signature blocks such as rallypoint and facebook? Please add any tips you can provide as well.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 3:27 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:27:46 -0400

NOOOOOO. Well only if you are is position that would make sense such as Recruiter, Retention, UPAR, or Public Affairs. Otherwise no.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 2 at 2014 6:57 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 18:57:46 -0400

Social media is called social media because it is, well for lack of a better term. socially oriented. There's nothing on my social site - FB that I really would want to share with employees or potential supervisors. Now LinkedIn that's another story, that's designed for professionalism. Just email if you need something - that I'll provide free of charge.

Response by PVT Geordon VanTassle made Jun 2 at 2014 8:01 PM

PVT Geordon VanTassle — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 20:01:14 -0400

As a trained emergency manager, I have a special interest in social media, particularly how it can be used as a force multiplier in times of disaster. A cursory search will turn up loads of instances where Twitter or Facebook (or both, since they each have a particular strength) have been used to convey urgent information.

Right now, I am in the job market for my industry, and I have been using LinkedIn in my signature block specifically for that reason. However, once I get in the field, I will almost certainly continue using some form of social media in my signature with the explicit reasoning that social media is useful for emergency notification and information exchange.

I have a list of some very interesting instances and situations in which social media has been very important in times of emergency and disaster, from all over the world.

Of course, my intended field is rather closely tied with the public and is not typical. For most professionals, including social media (especially SEVERAL social media outlets) in a sig block is probably not going to be useful. In fact, in some cases, I easily see it as being detrimental.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2014 3:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 15:33:34 -0400

I work in a Brigade Consolidated Retention office and my Senior (a MSG) includes a link to the Brigade Retention Facebook Page in his signature block. We have received a postive response, as Soldiers are actually seeing information that will allow them to take contol of their careers.
The same information is posted in every company area, the dining facilities, and every other common area in the foot print, but it may as well be written in Huttese.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 4 at 2014 2:31 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:31:33 -0400

I will gladly add my RallyPoint profile to my signature block (it allows for people to 'see' who you really are) when I can select my personal URL:

Currently:
https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/26105-msg-p-matthew-quick

Hopefully:
https://www.rallypoint.com/sgmquick

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2016 7:04 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 07:04:05 -0400

No. Unless you're a PAO, promoting an official website or page or recruiting.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Aug 17 at 2016 7:36 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 07:36:34 -0400

Probably a dinosaur here, but I say no. Having your social media site in your routine signature block just seems too "in your face" to me. If you are job hunting potential employers will search SM for you if they choose, no need to help them out unless they ask for it. If you are working for a company I see nothing wrong with posting the company SM sites in your correspondence, just not your personal site. In fact the last place I worked automatically generated their SM sites on all emails. SM sites, Linkedin in particular, provide internal means to network; there is no need to throw this information out to everyone you correspond with unless you are on their site.