Performance over presence ... I write in my book that you will not get hired (by employers or clients) based on your presence on social networking sites.   Rather, it's your performance on social networking sites that leads to success.  Performance is not creating a LinkedIn profile.  Performance is sharing information, engaging your contacts, forging new relationships, and meeting your online contacts face-to-face. 

Twitter Chat

Of the Big 3 sites, Twitter is the best platform for forging new relationships.  One way to engage your Twitter contacts to build new relationships is to participate in a Twitter Chat, an organized group discussion on Twitter at a specific time and about a specific topic.  There are over 140 organized chats that take place on Twitter for groups such as the pharmaceutical industry to professionals under 30. 

Twitter Chat for Job Seekers - #LawJobChat

Earlier this week, I announced the launch of a new monthly Twitter Chat for legal job seekers -- #LawJobChat.  Beginning Thursday, June 24 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, Melissa Sachs and I will host #LawJobChat on the last Thursday of each month.  #LawJobChat discussions will focus on job searches and career paths of attorneys.

Melissa and I will select the topics and guest co-hosts on the Monday prior to the Thursday chat.  Follow @LawJobChat for updates.   Guest co-hosts will consist of practicing attorneys, law firm recruiters, law school career counselors, and career experts.  Anyone may participate - ask questions, respond to questions, share stories, etc. 

Some lawyers and law students already use Twitter to ask questions about their job searches, such as:

• Should law students order business cards?
• Should lawyers and law students include links to their blogs on their resumes?
• How long should lawyers and law students wait before following up after submitting a resume? 
  

And, I've seen multiple attorneys on Twitter reply to these questions.  #LawJobChat offers a central forum for such discussions.  Participants can follow the discussion at a designated time, search for tweets containing the #LawJobChat hashtag, or review the chat transcript after the chat.  Moreover, #LawJobChat offers job seekers the opportunity to expand their professional networks by meeting and interacting with others in the legal profession. 

Click here for more information on how to participate in #LawJobChat.

Additionally, if you are a job seeker, I welcome your suggestions regarding topics to cover in #LawJobChat.  If you are a practicing attorney, recruiter, or career counselor, let me know if you'd like to serve as a designated guest co-host for a chat (though you are always welcome to participate even if you aren't a designated guest co-host). 

Twitter Chat for Legal Professionals

If you aren't seeking a job but want to participate in a Twitter Chat to build new business relationships, review this list to find other Twitter Chats that may benefit your practice.  For example, if you represent clients in the pharmaceutical industry, you may want to participate in #socpharm to learn more about the industry.   Or, if you are involved in a hiring role for your firm, #GenYChat may interest you.   I've highlighted six from the list that may interest legal professionals:   

#socpharm:  A weekly chat for anyone interested in pharma marketing and social media on Wed. at 8 pm EST. To learn more, contact @eileenobrien.

#smallbizchat:  Wed. 8-9p EST. A weekly twitter talk show dedicated to small businesses. Start-ups welcome! Host: @smallbizlady

#forbeschat:  Forbes editors and writers host a Twitter chat on Wednesdays at 1pm EST

#GenYChat:  Encourage notion that young people are bright and capable by engaging GenY'ers with GenX'ers and Baby Boomers. Wednesdays at 9pm EST

#smcedu:  Discussion about social media and higher education.  Mondays at 12:30pm EST.

#journchat:   Weekly (Mon 7-10pm CST) conversation between journalists, bloggers and public relations folks (conversation started by @PRsarahevans)

Twitter Chat for Law Firms & Law Schools

Finally, consider the potential for your firm or school to participate in Twitter Chats.  As Jordan Furlong wrote a few months ago, "law firms, unfortunately, are doing a lousy job with Twitter, every day, in growing numbers."  As Jordan and others have noted, law firms use Twitter accounts to rebroadcast information from their website media pages, such as new hires, press releases, and recent awards.  There is no engagement, no performance - only a mere presence.

What if a law firm created a Twitter Chat for a niche industry it serves where the discussion focused on industry issues, not legal issues?  For example, what if a law firm with clients in the hospitality industry, an industry that's very active on Twitter, launched a Twitter Chat for the Tourism and Hospitality industry?  Discussions might focus on internet marketing strategies for hotels, tactics to survive turbulent times, and industry trends.  The firm would pick industry experts to host the chats while the firm would moderate. 

Or, what if a law school created a Twitter Chat for one of its specialty programs?  For example, what if a law school with a strong environmental program created a Twitter chat about climate change -- or, the oil spill?

Think about it - do Twitter chats offer opportunities for law firms and law schools as well?  Perhaps?  I am confident about the benefits of #LawJobChat for job seekers and encourage you to participate on June 24 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.