Five social media networking tips

In a world dominated by social media, having an online presence is important for any professional who wants to market his or her services — or self. Here are a few tips:

Create your own online brand. Customize your social media accounts. Tweak your bio, profile picture and background to your liking. On LinkedIn, for example, update current employment and education. Employers and potential customers want to know more about you via social media — make it easy for them!

Post often. Although posting often on social media channels can be a pain, it is necessary to stay relevant and gain followers. It may be difficult at first, but once you get into a good posting routine, it will get easier. It may help to schedule your posts ahead of time and strategize what you would like to post next. Lastly, don’t forget the magic of the occasional hashtag.

Interaction. Interacting with your followers is just as important as posting content. Don’t be afraid to reply to a mention on Twitter or write a comment on Instagram. If you receive feedback, either positive or negative, always respond. It is also important to retweet and share content from other users you find interesting and important.

Understand that each social media platform is different. Since each social media platform is unique, it is smart to create specific content for each platform. For Twitter you need memes, for LinkedIn, professional headshots and more substantive content. Get creative!

Get out from behind the screen. So you’ve done a good job of networking with a potential client via social media. It doesn’t end there. Social networking sites tend to connect people through group events, so it’s smart to be prepared to meet new people face-to-face.