In February 2008, marketer Lynne McNamee recognized a need. With the exponential growth of social networking sites, it was going to become increasingly difficult to manage one's online presence. The time and documentation required to keep track of, let alone updating, of the multiple locations on the web where one could enter information about oneself was incredible. And for busy professionals who are busy actually doing things worth writing about online (professors publishing papers, doctors with medical breakthroughs, professionals with presentations and product promotiong, etc.) - they just don't have the time to dedicate to these arenas.

At the same time, what cannot be ignored are two key points:
1. the internet is here to stay and is where people go for information.
2. if people can't find you online, they move on to the next person or opportunity.

Additionally, the way search engines work, once something exists in cyberspace - it is there for good. So misquotes, people with the same name as you, mistakes or poor choices can follow you for a long, long time.

So what if there were a solution to:
1. have one place on the web where you know your information is accurate, up-to-date and presenting you the way you want to be presented?
2. have one place on the web to send people to in order to find your links on the multiple (and growing) social media and social networking sites?
3. have one place to post links and copies of papers, presentations, promote upcoming speaking engagements, etc.?
4. have one place to coordinate all your personal branding efforts?
5. have professionals work with you to develop not only your personal brand, but also a marketing plan to get your brand in front of people?
6. have professionals work with you for Search Engine Optimization?
7. have a team that tracks your online activity and provide reporting?
8. have a team that helps you manage your online activity, from reminders to recommendations?
9. have legal experts evaluate the terms and conditions of social networking sites to ensure your safety and copywrite ownerships?
10. have actual human beings (not computers) partner with you to craft a compelling presentation and to work with you -- and for you -- to maximize your online presence and to manage it?

Others have tried to immitate us -- good! There is a need that many are finally recognizing. What they don't offer is the human element that adds value. In essence, most of our competitors are trying to offer you a site on the cheap. You can already do that in any of the social networking sites already. For those for whom that's good enough, we wish you every luck.

For the rest of us, though, our reputation is too valuable. The years of schooling, hard work, networking and research should not be left to chance...or to a computer. Yes, we utilize technology anywhere we can to keep costs down and to ensure that we are incorporating what the computer 'sees' into our development and recommendations.

We do more, though. Because even though a computer might read a resume or profile first, it is a PERSON who will make the hiring decision, the care provider decision, the buying decision.

That Social Networking Thing. Because "social" by definition relates to human society and its members.

Now - meet some of the those humans!

Lynne M. McNamee
Principal, TSNT (That Social Networking Thing)

Lynne McNamee is the founder and president of Always Visible Signs, LLC, a marketing agency in Milford, Connecticut.  She is the inventor of Always Visible Signs™, a patent pending point-of-purchase (POP) sign that offers additional presence at-retail and maintains shelf presence, even when front facings are removed.

McNamee managed the Avis Rent A Car account at Dryden Partners, a promotional marketing agency in Norwalk, CT, growing billings 45% in three years.  While there, she also directed the Hewlett-Packard, Bank of America, MCI and Puerto Rico Tourism Company accounts, among others.

McNamee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Arts from Boston College.  After doctoral studies at the Catholic University of America, she worked at The Timberland Company and Arcature, LLC, a marketing consulting firm in Stamford, CT, before joining Dryden Partners in 2000.