It is now time for the first installment of the Social Media Mission 2008. I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Hoosier here in Indianapolis named James Paden. I met James on Twitter.

What do you love about social media?

I don’t know if I love social media at the moment. I read a lot of blogs from time to time but I haven’t, until recently, tried to do any online networking. I’ve always been busy. Twitter has gotten the best of me lately and I have been pleasantly surprised by the affect that it has had, meeting new people and networking.

I have been a big believer in LinkedIN (James’ profile) for a long time.

Why are you big believer in LinkedIN?

I see the value of having a business focused network rather than having the typical Facebook and Myspace friends. I am very much a business oriented type of guy. It allows me to reach people that I wouldn’t be able to reach normally. I really appreciate the questions and answers section.

How long have you been on Twitter?

I have been actively twittering for about 3 weeks.

Okay, so, you don’t know whether you love social media. What is one thing you love about the Internet?

I love building websites. I love creating small business. I have an entrepreneurial mentality. It is fairly easy to be able to take an idea and transfer it into the Internet world. That is what I love.

What do you love about building websites?

I love creating things. As a kid, my group of friends always loved to play in the make believe world. Using GI Joes or any other type of imaginary game (ie. cops and robbers). When we played Lego, my siblings would always just play with the toys. I always focused on building something. I love to build by nature, creating things from scratch is a passion of mine.

How much time do you spend on the Internet daily?

I sleep for eight hours.

So that means you spend around 15 hours on the Internet? What the heck do you on the Internet for 15 hours?

I get up in the morning and go to work. I am a lead developer for a network of e-commerce websites. I will spend eight to nine hours at work. I will go home and have a quick supper and work on either my freelance client’s websites or my web designers directoy.

Let me stop you. Tell me about this web designers directory.

The web designers directory grew out of my freelance web design companies website. In late 2005, my search engine ranking had grown to the point where I thought I could profit more from referring visitors to other designers and their website rather than just working as a freelancers.

I am really trying to focus on becoming involved in social networking to connecting with designers and web programmers to further my visibility in LinkedIN, Twitter, Plaxo etc.

What is your favorite spam bot on Twitter?

You, man. No I’m kidding. Santaclaus_127. He/She/It is a pain.

I would like to thank James for taking the time to sit down with me. It was a great honor to meet him and connect a face with the twitter account. Thanks James! Stay tuned for the next week meet.