Swipe, like, retweet, repost, shares, scroll, click, repeat. Social media is an integral part of our society.
CNN reports that teens in the US spend an astonishing nine hours a day on social media. Whether you think we should be spending our lives staring at screens or not, one thing is inevitable – with society spending so much time on social media, it’s important to make sure your social accounts are top notch.
Not sure where to start? Take a look at these tips on how to improve your social media accounts to make them stand out.
Stay consistent across all social media platforms
It’s not uncommon for people to have four or five different active social media accounts. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more – all require you to have a profile picture and biography.
In order to establish a personal brand, keep your profile pictures and biography consistent. Imagine shopping for your favorite brand of cereal at the store and the box is different at each store you go to.
It would take a lot more time and effort to find your favorite brand if the packaging is different. You might even give up looking. This same concept can be applied to your social media profiles. Keep your picture and biography the same so people can find you easier.
*Biography Tip – Use strategic keywords that tell people more about who you are and what you do. For example, if you are interested in starting a career in social media, consider using hashtags such as #SMM, #SEO and #SocialMedia. Also, tag and link your bio to your school for a better chance of getting in touch with alumni that can network with.
*Profile Picture Tip – Use a picture that has a plain background and is properly lighted. Do not wear sunglasses or hats. Try to use a picture that is not you cropped out of a picture from a crazy night of drinking and partying. And of course, make sure it’s a picture you like – it will be the face that everyone sees across all your profiles after all.
Fill out every section in the biography fields
No one likes a job half-done, and the same philosophy goes for your social media pages. Leaving blanks can come off as lazy, unprofessional, or unknowledgeable. As fun as social media is, it’s important to take social media platforms seriously. You never know who could be looking at your profile – professors, alumni, potential employers – the possibilities are endless.
Click on the “edit profile” link on all your social media platforms and get to work! Don’t forget to keep these sections consistent as well. Use specific key words to broadcast your personal brand. Pick 5 to 10 terms that you work into sections of your social media platforms. For example, use these terms in your Linkedin job title, bio, job description, skills, etc. This helps search engines find you better.
Link your social media profiles
Many social media platforms allow you to add a “website” to your biography or profile. Don’t write off this field if you don’t have a website you can share with others. Consider using this field to link your other platforms together.
Facebook allows you to link you to add a website in your “Contact and Basic Info” section; Twitter and Instagram allow you to add a link in your bio. LinkedIn allows you to add links and media to almost every section of your profile including the summary, experience, and additional information pages.
Linking your profiles allows people to see how you optimize each platform effectively. It also shows that you have the ability to keep a consistent brand online. With Americans spending more than 11 hours a day online, it’s important to establish yourself as someone who is capable of creating a strong, consistent social media presence.
Engage
Sure, we all like to comment on #PicsFromLastNight and share our crazy stories with friends on social media. Everyone loves a good #ThrowbackThursday, but don’t forget to promote your accomplishments, too.
Write a killer thesis? Upload it to Linkedin and use proper keywords to describe it.
Take an amazing picture of your school? Share it on your schools Facebook page and tag it on Instagram.
Your article was published online? Tweet it out to the world and use related hashtags.
There’s nothing wrong with a little shameless self-promotion. That’s what social media is for after all. Also, share related articles that pertain to your field of study or intended field of work.
Have a role model in your field? Find their social media pages and share, like, and comment on their content. If you have something compelling to say, don’t be afraid to reach out to them with your opinions. Who knows, it might open the door for a future job opportunity.
Use #hashtags
#Connect with other people in your industry by using #hashtags. But don’t go crazy hashtagging #every #single #word. Be strategic in your approach. Use tools such as Hashtag Scout, Hashtagify, and Tagboard to find hashtags related to your interests and personal brand goals.
Cater your hashtags to the social media platform you are using. While popular hastags on Twitter and Instgram may be similar, they are not always identical. Do some research before haphazardly hashtagging.
Try to make your hashtags content specific. If you are posting about music, don’t hashtag “#music,” but something more specific like “#EDM”. At the same time, keep in mind that a hashtag that is too specific doesn’t do you any good. Keep your tags something that you might search for when looking for a topic. Think about what terms you would look up in order to find more information about the content you are posting.
Always aim to have more words in your description than hashtags. While it is apparent that people use hashtags to connect with other people, you want to seem authentic in your efforts and not just use hashtags simple for the likes or comments.
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photo credit: Social Media via photopin (license)
