Strategy for Social Media for work
I feel I need to build some kind of social media image by making regular posts on LinkedIn. I have the impression that this is now an unofficially required part of the job.
Unfortunately, I have a lifelong habit of trying not to draw attention to myself and this doesn't come naturally to me. I am thinking I will need some kind of strategy and process for this and I wonder if anyone else has to do this and has any suggestions on effective approaches or useful experiences to share?
My social media policy has always been just to make myself available. I was so painfully shy in person, but, I realized I could fake being normal enough online and forced myself to jump in... once it started paying off, it encouraged me to keep it up, no matter how awkward I feel about it. If they don't see me being awkward, I can grind through it.
Every time a social media platform comes up, I create a profile on it. Most of them, I just point back to my blog, but, you can point them all back to your LinkedIn account, or whevever you prefer to be most active.
So, I'd say, create those accounts and just occasionally remember to log in and reshare some content from other people in similar work... it doesn't have to be your content, just an illustration that you're with it. If you've got some of your own content, even better.
I got my first magazine gig because I mentioned my industry on my MySpace profile.
I indirectly got my current job (and interviewed for one a few years ago) because I kept my LinkedIn profile active.
I met my publisher through a writer on Twitter that was attending a conference where he didn't know anyone, so, I said 'hi' and now I've edited like 12 book through them.
My original Facebook contacts were all work-related, so, I get a lot of feedback when I post professional questions there.
I haven't got any stories like that for Google+, but, my blog posts get reshared/commented/plussed there because my blog is hosted by Google, so, it definitely promotes me with very little work.
I still have a hard time 'promoting' myself in person, but, most people are so tied to their devices or favorite social media that I don't need to do it, because my online persona is already doing it for me.
I've also gotten a lot of job offers (unfortunately, not locally) just because I'm so available online that it's easy for people to invite me into a conversation.
I think you have to go with whatever makes you feel comfortable. Some people are constantly instigating conversations within LinkedIn or Google+ communities, and that works for them. I don't have the time or interest for that, but, I occasionally write an article and frequently comment on other articles in various channels, take part in a twitter chat at night while I'm cooking... whatever. Just explore and find the things you can force yourself to do and it will fall into place.
