As social media continues to change the way we communicate, it can be increasingly difficult to understand the etiquette appropriate for these new mediums. A recent viral story serves as a great example of this point. A couple of months ago, 26-year-old Diana Mekota sent an email to Kelly Blazek, who runs an online job bank for marketing professionals in Cleveland. In the message Mekota outlined her education, professional and volunteer experience, and included a request to join Blazek’s 7,300-person list of potential job seekers, as well as a request to connect on LinkedIn. To say the least, Blazek’s reply was not what Mekota was expecting. In addition to denying Mekota’s requests, Blazek took the time to write a condescending email to Mekota calling her a “total stranger who has nothing to offer me.” In short, Blazek’s response berated Mekota for attempting to connect with a “senior professional” with “top-tier marketing connections.”
Mekota felt this response was so unprofessional that she decided to post it online. Within a few weeks, the post went viral, and shortly thereafter another recent college grad stepped forward to say that he had received a similar response from Blazek. The backlash from these emails going public has caused Blazek to delete her Twitter, LinkedIn, and blog accounts. She has also returned the “communicator of the year” award she received last year from Cleveland’s Internal Association of Business Communicators. She has issued an apology, but it hasn’t done much to quell the firestorm.
This isn’t the first story of its kind, but it does serve as a strong reminder that the way we communicate today is much more fluid than it used to be. If a job seeker had received a similar rejection letter 20 years ago, it’s very unlikely that it would have gained national attention. With today’s means of electronic communication, we have to keep in mind that everything we say online, even private emails, can eventually–and quickly–make it to the public’s view. One would assume that this is common sense, but stories like this continue to educate and remind us that there are a few things we need to keep in mind when communicating online.
The anonymity of the Internet often gives us a sense of separation from the people we communicate with. It can be easy to forget that there is a person behind the words on the screen. With this in mind, make sure to personalize the messages or connection requests you send people. The purpose of many social media sites is to help people connect and network. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems to take the personal aspects out of communication. To combat this, do research on the professionals you are looking to connect with. Find common ground on which to build that professional relationship. You are much more likely to get a positive response if your request includes a personal message as opposed to the default request to connect. Always be polite, even when someone isn’t polite to you. Remember to maintain professionalism online just as you would in person or over the phone. In this case, Mekota handled the situation very well staying polite even after Blazek’s scathing email. Keep your communication positive. A simple no, or even a non-reply, is better than an overly negative response.
Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate. It is always changing, and so are the ways we communicate through it. One thing that doesn’t change is the fact that no matter which medium we use to communicate people want to be treated with respect. If you can keep these simple things in mind, you will find success building your own network within your field, and hopefully not end up as the villain in the latest viral story.