Do you remember your first time signing up for a new social network? You finished up your profile and then clicked “Follow” or “Add Friend” on every name you recognized and watched your feed fill up?
Of course, having a good amount of contacts is a great start. But if you don’t know the right way to use them, they’re just a bunch of names and emails on your friend list. Whether you use social networking as a way to socialize and stay connected in your leisure time or your goal is to broaden your connections and establish your brand, if you let your networking end at accepting a friend request, you’re not using it to its fullest potential.
Network Wisely With a Networking App
Before you do anything, you need to make sure you’re using a networking app that will connect you with the demographic you’re aiming for. If you’re looking to make business connections, not only will you have a harder time FINDING the right people on more social apps, you’re missing out on the opportunity to use the most optimal app for that goal. Apps and other social media can connect you with people in your field or who were educated at similar institutions. They can even have an attached resume and portfolio for potential business connections to look over.
This isn’t to say that making business connections over a social media app is impossible or even not recommended. It depends on what you do. In some industries, accumulating a large following of followers is important.
You can also use any and all social media platforms to stay informed on what contacts and organizations you want to get more familiar with are doing.
Interact Often
It may seem sort of obvious, but as you build a strong base of followers on any social networking app or platform, it’s important that you stay active on it. You don’t need to be updating or posting every second of every day, and in fact, it’s important to broadcast your willingness and ability to network offline, too. But responding to people that you want to make those connections with, posting updates every so often, sharing pictures, excerpts, or other samples of the work you offer are all great strategies for staying on the radar of your target audience.
Pin Your Best Work
If there is something you really want potential employers, partners, or clients to see, utilize the Pin feature available on most social media apps. Post a link to a portfolio of your work, a recent achievement, a video about a project you worked on, etc.
Getting people to come to your page is more than half the battle. Don’t make them dig through your posts and replies to find the buried treasure!
Check In
Whether it’s a connection you made in-person or online, make sure you check in every once in a while to see what they’re up to. Don’t overload their inbox, but check in enough that you end up near the top of their Private Messages list.
This is a great way to stay on someone’s radar AND so they can learn more about you.
Social Networking Apps
Make yourself as available as possible. If you use multiple social media networks and platforms, post them in the Biography, Banner, or Pinned section of your profiles. Link your portfolio, CV, business email, other social media, etc. all in one place so viewers can check you out in other places to see how well you could fit into their team and so they know where they can find you.
Of course, it’s always important to remember the age-old rule, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandmother or your boss to see. Don’t make all your social networking about impressing a business contact, but try to keep it as PG as possible.
Don’t forget that outside of your immediate circle and even your own city, there exists an entire world of people with particular skill sets, experience, and ideas that can change your view. Great partnerships await, so expand your horizons and share your contacts on social media! Visit StayTouch for more social networking tips!