I know many professional organizers who are not taking advantage of Facebook to market their businesses. Their reasoning is sound: “I help my clients to make the best use of their time and space. It just doesn’t make sense for me to waste time on Facebook or other social networks.”

Once upon a time, all you needed was a professional-looking business card and maybe a brochure. In more recent years, it became expected that even a small business like yours would have a website. These days, prospective clients want to get to know you personally, through Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social networking websites.

With all the current hype about social media, you’ve probably joined a few sites simply because someone sent you an invitation, or because you heard or read that it was a good idea. Once you’ve signed up, the benefits aren’t always obvious, especially when you only have one or two connections.

Last year, I was invited to be a contestant in Blog-Off II, a blogging competition to find the best social media and marketing experts. Although I wasn’t selected as a winner, it was a great experience which gave me an opportunity to connect with and learn from some really outstanding bloggers. Today I’d like to share one of the posts I wrote for the competition.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a seminar with social media business coach Mari Smith, as part of Social Media Success Summit 2010 (SMSS10). The timing was perfect, as it allowed me to learn about some of the latest developments on Facebook, and to include a few of Mari’s tips in my presentation to the Halton-Peel Chapter of POC last night. Here are the highlights of my talk.

After losing an argument with myself about whether or not I would attend this year’s NAPO Conference, I needed to recruit a guest blogger to share the highlights with my readers, and the first person I thought of was Julie Bestry, who is a great writer and a constant source of support and inspiration to me. I think you’ll agree that reading Julie’s post is the next best thing to being there.

I love it that I still have connections within Professional Organizers of Canada! Following my successful presentation last month for the Southwestern Ontario Chapter, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be speaking at two Chapter meetings in May. Here are the details of these and other upcoming professional organizer events in Ontario.

Today I continue my series for Improve Management Skills Month with a look at social networking, both online and offline. Mastering the art of networking will help you to build your brand, expand your reach, grow your business, and be a more confident individual. To determine whether you are networking effectively, ask yourself the following questions.

The other day, someone asked me how he could get others to follow him on Twitter. That’s a question many of us have pondered, whether we’re just getting started on Twitter, are trying to grow our following, or are trying to figure out whether it would be worthwhile to use Twitter at all. Here are a few strategies that work, as well as a few that don’t.

Here it is – the 7th Professional Organizers Blog Carnival, and the last one for 2009. We have a record number of professional organizers participating this month, and I’d like to thank those who are joining us for the first time, as well as our regulars and everyone in between! Grab your favorite beverage and get ready to read and enjoy!

Tags: balance, blog carnival, Christmas, clutter-free gifts, conference, family, goal setting, hoarders, holidays, NAPO, organizing products, paper, social media, success, Twitter