My publicists suggested that I increase my social media activity after the release of my first book, The FabYOUList, in order to generate buzz and expand my audience. I quickly changed my personal Facebook page to a “Public Figure” page and joined Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Google+.
Although some people describe social media as “a total time suck,” it hasn’t been that way for me. In fact, online professional connections have led to some of my best opportunities. Social media deserves a lot of the credit for assisting me in developing my personal brand as a lifestyle authority.
How to Network and Build a Social Circle — 3 Networking Tips
Why is networking with social media important?
Social media networking is crucial because it can help you establish business contacts through a cutting-edge, rapidly expanding medium of communication. Having a basic understanding of how to network more effectively on social media can help you write better and draw attention to your experience and portfolio from potential employers, clients, or customers.
How to network with social media
The following seven steps will teach you how to network on social media:
1. Write a brief personal message
When contacting someone for the first time, sending a brief personal message can help establish a professional rapport right away. Because some people may read your message on devices with smaller screens, like a smartphone or tablet, and because they might prefer a message they can read quickly and effectively, it is crucial that the message be brief. By being personal, you can establish a connection with the person you’re corresponding with and demonstrate your desire to establish a mutually beneficial professional relationship.
It can be helpful to address the recipient by name, introduce yourself, and mention something or someone that links the two of you when writing a personal message. A foundation for the relationship can be laid by sending a message that mentions a shared interest or mutual friend. Finally, end the message with your reasons for reaching out. Some examples of personalized messages include:
2. Network with individuals at all working levels
When networking on social media, some people prioritize establishing connections with influential figures in their career or field. Consider attempting to network with staff at all levels of employment, even though these connections are still useful in presenting you with potential advice or employment opportunities. If you interact with someone who is on the same career path as you are, you can advance in your positions together while providing support and guidance to one another as you forge a mutually beneficial relationship. It’s also possible that people you network with who hold entry-level jobs will keep advancing their careers and eventually be able to provide you with a job opportunity or position.
3. Join groups or pages of interest
You can join groups or pages that are focused on particular topics or subjects on many social media platforms. By signing up for some of these pages, you can discover and communicate with people who share your interests. Consider introducing yourself when you join a social media group or page, mentioning your current job and prior exposure to the topic or subject of the page.
For instance, if a social media platform has a page just for gardeners, a greeting might read: “Hello, my name is Wendy.” I just wanted to introduce myself. I currently work from home as an accountant, and I enjoy the freedom gardening gives me and the justification it gives me to spend time outside each day. With this introduction, Wendy can share her profession with the group and perhaps begin forming business relationships. These connections can introduce you to people with various professional backgrounds who may be able to provide you with guidance, useful information, and even job opportunities.
4. Ask for advice
Asking people in managerial or executive positions for career advice is a great way to start forming connections right away. These people occasionally have memories of what it was like to first enter the field and have experiences and knowledge that can advance your career. Asking for advice via social media can also lead to a situation that could lead to a professional relationship. You might find more opportunities to your advantage in the future if you keep cultivating this connection and communicating with these people.
5. Be helpful when you can
Helping others when you can shows that your relationship can be beneficial to both parties, which is important when continuing to develop professional relationships. For instance, if you work as a marketing specialist and you are aware of a recent college graduate seeking an entry-level marketing position, think about speaking with your manager to determine whether the graduate would be a good fit for the organization. It’s always possible that the recent college graduate will be able to advise you or assist you in obtaining a new role or position in a few years.
6. Reach out to people you dont know
It’s crucial to reach out to people you don’t know because doing so can help you expand your professional network and improve your communication skills. Introduce yourself, state your intentions clearly, and conclude your message with a call to action when you send a message to someone you don’t know personally. You can improve your chances of receiving a favorable response and beginning a new working relationship by succinctly outlining your justifications for contacting them in a single message.
For instance, if you discover someone’s profile and learn they are currently employed by a marketing firm as a copywriter, your written response might be something like this: “Hello Marcie, my name is Stephanie and I just recently earned a communications degree from the University of Oklahoma. I wanted to get in touch with you because I saw that you are pursuing a similar career path as what I hope to do in the future. We should have coffee and talk about how you got started in your career so that I can learn the steps I need to take to become a copywriter. “.
7. Write your own content
Some social media platforms enable you to produce your own blog content. You can demonstrate to your professional contacts your knowledge and expertise in the field by producing original content that focuses on your current profession or industry. Without using a resume or cover letter, you can use this to demonstrate your credentials and qualifications to specific people. If a professional contact sees your work and is impressed by your knowledge and experience in your field of expertise through your written content, they may occasionally contact you about job openings in your field.
For instance, if you work in marketing, think about writing blog posts that highlight various marketing-related topics and may also offer advice or suggestions on how businesses can market more effectively. This could draw the interest of marketing companies or departments that think your suggestions are valuable and could help their business.
FAQ
What is networking in social media?
Additionally, cluster analyses revealed five different categories of SNS users: advanced, sporadic, socializers, and socializers.
How do you network someone on social media?
- Social Networking Causes Feelings of Isolation.
- Social Networking May Cause Depression.
- Social Networking May Increase Spending.
- Social Networking Lengthens Friendships.
- Social Networking Can De-Stress You.
- Social Networking Impacts the Economy.
Is social networking and social media the same?
Social networks are crucial because they enable people to build connections with people they might not otherwise be able to. Additionally, when used for marketing, public relations, and advertising initiatives, it raises business productivity.
What is social networking example?
Social networking services come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have some commonalities, like the use of the internet. User-generated content, such as images, videos, and posts that inform other users of the activities and interests of the poster, are some other similar traits.
