How would you create a PLN prior to engaging in a social media campaign on a topic of your choice? Consider how you would introduce yourself to others consider how you would engage in initial conversation to generate interest in your campaign professionally.

I believe to create a PLN prior to engaging in social media, I would first read books to inform myself on the topic at hand. The next step would be to talk to my friends and family to spark this conversation about the topic to create a space open for discussion and learning new things. You never know what knowledge or opinions your close relationships have until you direct the conversation to be about something you want to talk about or learn more about. It’s a great way to see new perspectives from those closest to you; you never know; anything is possible with an open mind. I would then speak to my professional network of coworkers and bosses if the topic were appropriate to bring up in conversation. The way I would bring up this conversation in my personal life is different compared to my professional. In an initial conversation, I would most likely generate a question relevant to the campaign to spark a general conversation, nothing too specific to give it away or be up in everyone’s faces. In this conversation, I would actively listen and direct the conversation to a more narrow scope that is more relevant to my campaign. Once we are comfortable with each other after a long period of time, chatting back and forth is when I would be straightforward. I think the best way in a professional setting is to spark a complex question to grab their attention, almost like a hook in real life! Then as you settle in with each other, you can be more direct. In a professional setting, it varies depending on the person you are talking with. Working professional is a broad term, and there are different types of individuals in the workforce, those who are easier to talk to and those who are like a brick wall. So, in the end, I believe it all depends on the person you are speaking with, so make sure you have high personal awareness, active listening skills, and are a good conversationalist!