Whether you’re looking for a job or not, showcasing your social media accounts is a great way to show others who you are, professional and personally. Here are several key ingredients to branding yourself through social media:
1. Be Professional
Unfortunately, we can’t go on without saying that posting things like offensive content, taking a strong political stance, or cursing are not things that you should be posting on social media to better promote yourself. Use common sense when posting updates and content. Don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want your boss to see.
2. Be Personable
Don’t just self-promote. Mix in fun, interesting content with the professional, here’s-what-I-do type stuff. People get tired of seeing too much self promotion. Above all, show your personality. Whether it’s humor or smarts, let your personality shine through social media.
3. Respond & Engage
This one might be one of the most important. Social media is all about being social. Respond to the people who reach out to you and engage with others, especially like-minded people, to better establish yourself on social networks. Here’s an example of a good, engaging tweet from @JenLeighCLT, a local business owner here in Charlotte:
4. Upload a Photo of Yourself for Your Profile Photo
Having a clear, high-quality photo of yourself as your profile photo (on all social networks) will show others who you are and help them to relate to you better than they would a photo of Kermit the frog. This also applies to your Twitter or Instagram bio as well. Take some time to come up with something short and sweet that sums up who YOU are better than the boring “Name, Location, Job Title.” Social Ape’s boss lady knows all about personal branding as seen on her Twitter account (see good photo and bio below)!
5. Establish Your Niche & Authority Of Your Industry
Show people what interests you, what you’re good at and like-minded people will follow and engage with you. Whatever it is that you do, there’s a way to show-off your skills and interests without constantly self-promoting. Find that niche. Here’s an example of Brian’s personal Twitter account, @factandfitness, where he does a great job promoting his niche – fitness – and establishing himself as an authority in the industry
Establishing a personal brand is extremely important in a digital world where employers and clients alike can easily discover you online within seconds. Be sure to represent yourself in a professional and approachable manner as well as showcase your skills and knowledge. Personal branding can do wonders for helping you to land that big promotion or sign a new client.
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