How are you using social media technologies to create a powerful online presence? Social media technologies continue to be a chosen communication tool used by many professionals. However, what’s missing with the launch of these online technologies is a good guide on how to best use these technologies effectively. Individuals and professionals seem to be left on their own to determine what to share, what to post, and what to tweet.
Over the years, I have studied and read dozens of books related to social media technologies, completed a master’s thesis and project related to this topic, and given numerous presentations on “Social Media: The Do’s and Don’ts of Branding Your Online Image.” What I have learned is that people generally communicate with good intensions, but are simply uninformed on how to best use these communication tools.
As a user of social media technologies, you are in the driver’s seat to create the online messages and image that you want to project to your audience. If you were to take a look at your online social media communication over the last 30, 60, or 90-days, what would you see? What is the common theme of your messages? Are these messages really intended for the audience that you have established?
Here are some suggestions on how you can use social media technologies more effectively:
- Start with one social media technology (i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) and learn to work with this technology before attempting to use another social media technology. It’s best to use one social media effectively than to use three social media technologies ineffectively.
- Share messages that will promote business for your current and past employers or other businesses.
- Consider your intent and purpose for joining and using these social media technologies. Remember your purpose for wanting to be online when selecting and writing your messages.
- Communicate your professional accomplishments, presentations, promotions, and activities.
- Share current events, informative articles, motivational quotes, and inspiring stories.
- Communicate in complete sentences, spell out all words, use punctuation, and proofread carefully.
- Take a few moments each day to monitor the information being shared by your online network, make comments, and show your support towards what others are sharing.
- Post appropriate pictures.
Make it a goal to create a blend of professional and personal online communication messages, which are appropriate, informative, fun, and useful. With some thoughtful planning and a bit of work, you can have the best of all worlds—a powerful and useful online presence balanced with the warm and human side of YOU!”