I love Skype. I just wanted to make that clear first. For those not yet in the know Skype functions both as a VOIP (you can use it like a telephone service to phone over the internet) and a text instant messenger. You can use the latter function to quickly set up public chat rooms such as my one for the Passion Project in which we share our day, ask for help and generally support each other through the journey of finding an monetizing our passions. I am also a member of several others (links at the end of the post).
My new friends Julie and I were discussing how to best utilize these rooms
1. Avoid being a member of too many - it’s tempting to join every Skype room going but ask yourself what benefit that room will be to you and what cost. Be ruthless - you aren’t obligated to be in a Skype room just because the person who runs it as a friend.
2. Limit the time you spend in the room. Use them as a reward for finishing a particular task or when you have a question or you need to brainstorm. It is great to take some downtime to chat to people in the same situation as you but too easy to get caught up in a conversation that lasts hours at the expense of your productivity.
3. Do use them as a great place to network but make sure you keep to the room guidelines and the spirit of the room. If it is not clear whether or not it is okay to post a link or a resource, ask first - the policy of it being better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission may just get you ejected and banned.
4. Have fun and ask questions. Get to know the people in the room as you never know who may just be your next joint venture partner or who will inspire your next great idea.
Skype rooms I belong to: (clicking on a link will take you straight into the room in question if you have skype downloaded - if you don’t have skype go here for a free download - Skype only costs money if you use it to call someone’s phone.)
Carol Deckert’s Networking room - talk about all aspect of networking and get advice from Carol, the Networking Coach.
Julie Wolf’s Skype room - find out about Julie’s Sales Funnel Secret program
Jerry Leventers IBC chat room to discuss and find solutions to all things technical
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
4 responses so far ↓
1 Carol Deckert // Feb 6, 2008 at 9:07 am
Katherine, you covered some excellent points in using Skype rooms. As with many other things, use in moderation is definitely the choice as it is very easy to get sidetracked in the wonderful conversations happening in these rooms.
Sometimes the brainstorming sessions get a little off track as well, so don’t be afraid to guard your time, and leave the discussion when it is best for you, not for everyone else!
Thanks Katherine, for this cross-blogging opportunity on using Skype rooms!
Yours in networking,
Carol
2 Sales Funnel Secrets Blog » Blog Archive » How Do I Promote Your Skype Room? // Feb 6, 2008 at 9:38 pm
[...] How To Make Sure Skype Rooms Support Rather Than Sabotage Your Business by Katherine Reschke of the Passions That Pay & Passion Project. [...]
3 Julie Wolf // Feb 8, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Thank you Katherine for writing this informative “Time Management with Skype Rooms” post. This would be an excellent post to bring back periodically, posting in our Skype Rooms, especially for new people just joining Skype rooms.
I plan to contribute more to this Skype use productivity series with a Skype Tips lesson on setting your Skype Chat Notifications and Skype Status - Do Not Disturb, so people can set Skype for their needs for better goal reaching in their businesses and online activities.
And thank you also for the cross blogging opportunity, as Carol also expressed here gratitude for, I too am grateful.
Warmly,
Julie Wolf
P.S.
If anyone would like my Skype Tips, you can find them here : http://www.incomeassurance.com/skype as well as a free Skype Download, Funny Skype Animation Movies & Other Skype Goodies…. including my Skype Tips Room Blog.
4 Kathy Pop // Mar 23, 2008 at 4:23 am
Yes!
Kathrine, thank you! They can certainly become addictive. Your “Time Management with Skype Rooms” post is perfect for those new to networking- it’s way too easy to get caught up in making contacts and in learning then at the end of the day, nothing has been accomplished- been there myself many times 9 and still do ocassionally).
Thanks again- very good information
Leave a Comment