5 WAYS TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING
The advent of social media
has helped to introduce the concept of ‘social media for professional
networking’. Slowly, ‘in-person’ networking is being overpowered by simply
connecting to social networking sites. It’s all part of the phenomenon of
social media that engages tens of millions of internet users per day. In
today’s ‘networking space’, it is thus important to know how to use social
media for your professional networking. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel
agency, shares 5 ways to help you do this.
has helped to introduce the concept of ‘social media for professional
networking’. Slowly, ‘in-person’ networking is being overpowered by simply
connecting to social networking sites. It’s all part of the phenomenon of
social media that engages tens of millions of internet users per day. In
today’s ‘networking space’, it is thus important to know how to use social
media for your professional networking. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel
agency, shares 5 ways to help you do this.
START WITH CONNECTION SITES
Use connection sites like
LinkedIn or Xing to look for quality contacts or high-level networkers (HLN) to
network with. A quality contact or HLN, according to Entrepreneur.com, are
people who are active online, have at least 500 connections and powerful
profiles. You should make sure the HLNs you choose to network with are decision
makers, executives, media, influencers etc. who are relevant to your field.
LinkedIn or Xing to look for quality contacts or high-level networkers (HLN) to
network with. A quality contact or HLN, according to Entrepreneur.com, are
people who are active online, have at least 500 connections and powerful
profiles. You should make sure the HLNs you choose to network with are decision
makers, executives, media, influencers etc. who are relevant to your field.
Don’t let the fact that you don’t
know these people hold you back, simply be transparent when sending them a
request or invite and let them know why you would like to connect with them.
Try to make the request or invite more about how you can help them and not how
they can help you. The more of these people you successfully connect with, the
more your visibility increases and the better for you. Increased visibility
puts you and your work or brand out there, and this can be especially useful
when seeking job opportunities because when headhunters browse through LinkedIn
profiles looking for suitable candidates to fill business positions, you’ll be
more visible to them.
know these people hold you back, simply be transparent when sending them a
request or invite and let them know why you would like to connect with them.
Try to make the request or invite more about how you can help them and not how
they can help you. The more of these people you successfully connect with, the
more your visibility increases and the better for you. Increased visibility
puts you and your work or brand out there, and this can be especially useful
when seeking job opportunities because when headhunters browse through LinkedIn
profiles looking for suitable candidates to fill business positions, you’ll be
more visible to them.
TARGET MARKET CONNECTIONS
(TMC)
(TMC)
There are two types of people who
market online – posters and seekers. You are a poster when you actively post
valuable information, resources, tips and offers. Posters are mostly
businesses, firms or companies. Seekers are mostly consumers, actively seeking
for products and services. TMCs are mostly used by posters. Posters aim their
products and services at these TMCs (groups of seekers actively sourcing for
information about products and services).
market online – posters and seekers. You are a poster when you actively post
valuable information, resources, tips and offers. Posters are mostly
businesses, firms or companies. Seekers are mostly consumers, actively seeking
for products and services. TMCs are mostly used by posters. Posters aim their
products and services at these TMCs (groups of seekers actively sourcing for
information about products and services).
A keyword search on social sites
will take you to the groups and discussion areas of these TMCs. You can then
join in the groups and discussions where your target market is active and
engage with them. Joining these groups and discussions can also give you
information on places your target market goes when looking for something in
your industry.
will take you to the groups and discussion areas of these TMCs. You can then
join in the groups and discussions where your target market is active and
engage with them. Joining these groups and discussions can also give you
information on places your target market goes when looking for something in
your industry.
GROUPS, COMMUNITIES AND
DISCUSSION AREAS
DISCUSSION AREAS
There are community areas on most
social networking sites for people who have the same interests to gather and
connect. You can join and monitor these groups, communities or discussion
areas, be active there and engage in their conversations with thoughtful and
relevant questions and contributions. This helps you establish a relationship
with members in the group and thus expand your professional network by exposing
you to and giving you a chance to connect with the right people. When members
of your group are familiar with you, they will be more willing to connect with
you.
social networking sites for people who have the same interests to gather and
connect. You can join and monitor these groups, communities or discussion
areas, be active there and engage in their conversations with thoughtful and
relevant questions and contributions. This helps you establish a relationship
with members in the group and thus expand your professional network by exposing
you to and giving you a chance to connect with the right people. When members
of your group are familiar with you, they will be more willing to connect with
you.
Groups, communities and
discussions areas can also give you information on relevant events happening in
your field that can present an opportunity for in-person networking, or present
a platform to showcase your talents or whatever it is you have to offer.
discussions areas can also give you information on relevant events happening in
your field that can present an opportunity for in-person networking, or present
a platform to showcase your talents or whatever it is you have to offer.
BLOGS AND FAN PAGES
Blogs and fan pages are two of
the best ways to engage with your target market, especially if you are a poster
(business, firm or company). You can connect or partner with relevant blogs in
your field, create your own blog, create and launch a Facebook fan page or
Twitter Profile or do all of these together to reach out to fans and enthusiasts
in your field. Once you are able to connect with them through your information,
resources, tips and offers, and they like they what they see, you can through
this, build a loyal following. Consequently, these loyal followers will be
happy to tell their families, friends and peers about you, and your
word-of-mouth will grow.
the best ways to engage with your target market, especially if you are a poster
(business, firm or company). You can connect or partner with relevant blogs in
your field, create your own blog, create and launch a Facebook fan page or
Twitter Profile or do all of these together to reach out to fans and enthusiasts
in your field. Once you are able to connect with them through your information,
resources, tips and offers, and they like they what they see, you can through
this, build a loyal following. Consequently, these loyal followers will be
happy to tell their families, friends and peers about you, and your
word-of-mouth will grow.
SHARE YOUR CONTENT
Whether you are a poster or
seeker, it is important to share your professional content or achievements on
your social media profiles so your connections, followers or friends can see
your professional achievements. If you have a blog or one you contribute to,
share your post and links to your post on your social media profile. If you are
an artiste and have written or sang songs, made dance videos etc., share them on
your profile. By doing this, you increase your visibility in your field
especially when your connections or friends or followers re-share your content.
Increasing your visibility helps you to make new social network connections,
and thus expands your professional network.
seeker, it is important to share your professional content or achievements on
your social media profiles so your connections, followers or friends can see
your professional achievements. If you have a blog or one you contribute to,
share your post and links to your post on your social media profile. If you are
an artiste and have written or sang songs, made dance videos etc., share them on
your profile. By doing this, you increase your visibility in your field
especially when your connections or friends or followers re-share your content.
Increasing your visibility helps you to make new social network connections,
and thus expands your professional network.
BEBEAKINBOADE is the fresh voice of African style, offering an informative, inspiring and entertaining mix of fashion,beauty ,entertainment,events ,place, inspirational and much more
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