We talk a lot about using social media to boost your visibility and to help with your networking strategy. However, today we are taking in back to basics: getting started with using LinkedIn and Twitter and using it to your professional advantage.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social network for professionals. It profiles digital professional profiles (CVs) and a feed of Industry news based on your connections and what you follow.
LinkedIn can be useful for a number of things including:
- searching for job and career opportunities;
- researching companies (and team members);
- developing thought-leadership;
- learning new things and keeping up to date;
- reviewing your peers;
- selling yourself and being visible to others.
You should use LinkedIn on a regular basis, setting up a profile and updating it on a regular basis (but no need to go overboard). You can use your profile to share, like and comment on relevant posts as well as sharing and curating your own interesting content.
If you are using your LinkedIn profile when looking for a new job (or to simply boost your presence in the market) you should also do the following steps (if you haven’t already done so):
- Set up your Profile and make it public (but limit it to show what will be shown to people you are not connected with).
- Edit your Public URL to make it easier to access and share.
- Use a Professional Photograph.
- Brand your Profile with a Professional Background Photo.
- Keep your Profile (and professional headline) up to date.
- Make sure your CV and LinkedIn profile align.
- Use Keywords in your profile.
Find out more about using LinkedIn by reading our Beginner’s A to Z Guide to LinkedIn.
Twitter is an online news and social networking service where people can post and interact with people worldwide. Messages are 280 characters or less and can be public or private.
Twitter can be great for a number of things
- staying up to date with the latest industry news (both general and niche)
- staying up to date with company and client news
- joining in industry conversations
- raising your profile by sharing commentary
- saving articles and news you want to read later
- following companies and
people you want to work with.
If you are using you Twitter professionally you should also do the following steps (if you haven’t already done so):
- use an appropriate @yourname (which is your unique identifier)
- write an appropriate Bio and include “views are my own” in your profile summary.
- use a professional photograph
- join conversations and use hashtags appropriately.
- Like and retweet interesting articles
If you find it easier, create two sets of