3 social media tips
I pushed back a bit when I was asked to speak on a panel that covered mastering social media engagement. I quickly announced my disclaimers: "I don't use Facebook and never have!" "I'm not on X and wasn't on Twitter!" "I need to do better with my JMT Speaks Instagram account!" But...I do know LinkedIn and use it frequently. So I have some thoughts, particularly since social media directly relates to and helps you build your brand!
#1: Use it!
This may seem obvious, but it bears stating: LinkedIn is a free, powerful tool. I know multiple people that don't use LinkedIn unless they are looking for a job. Or, they look at what their contacts post, but they don't click "like," leave a comment, or share any content. These are wasted opportunities! Don't sit on the sidelines or be a voyeur. And no, you don't "need" LinkedIn Premium -- I don't have it.
Start small, like taking five minutes up to three times a week to engage. You can literally set a timer. It's amazing how much you can like, comment on, and share in that short time. Eventually, it will get easier and you may decide to increase your time or frequency.
#2: Social media requires you to be social.
One of the biggest fears people have about LinkedIn is that it seems self-promotional. Well, I agree... if all you do is post content about yourself. Don't forget the social aspect! If you walked into a room and only spoke about yourself, after awhile, people would roll their eyes and stop listening. Instead, if you walked into a room and engaged in conversation with the people there, shook some hands and made new connections, well... you'd be much more social and engaging!
It's the same with social media. Yes, you should post content about yourself, like:
Accolades, awards, and wins.
Upcoming events you're attending.
Speaking engagements.
Thought leadership, such as your ideas, thoughts, or helpful articles relevant to your brand or industry.
But I'll channel Sabrina Carpenter here when I say please, please, please, also make sure you are social. You can and should:
Comment on posts that resonate with you, whether it's content from people in your network or posts the algorithm adds to your feed.
Reply to comments on your comments!
Create a new post supporting someone in your network or an organization you support.
Reshare a post with a comment about why it matters to you.
*P.S. Avoid generic comments and instead show you've engaged with the post . A former colleague you admire got a new job? "Congrats, Kelly! You're a true leader and a pleasure to work with!" Your friend posted persuasive thought leadership? "Todd, what you said XYZ really hit home for me. Thanks for sharing this helpful insight!"
#3: Don't overthink it.
So many people say they don't know what to post. Rest assured you have content -- see #2.
Others tell me that they pour over a post trying to make it perfect -- so they end up not posting or taking forever to do so. Perfection? This is one of those times that the adage good is better than perfect fits. Typos happen. Your grammar need not be perfect. As long as your content is not overtly sloppy and riddled with errors, give yourself permission to be imperfect (aka human) and let it fly! Showing you're not perfect will yield authentic connection.
My caveat and bonus tip? Do give thought to what you're posting and where. We're talking about LinkedIn, so you won't see the picture of my son looking like a Jack-o-lantern after losing two teeth in 48 hours (on personal Instagram only!), but you will see my post about having Covid and needing car repair in the same week -- and why it meant I needed to pay attention to my body's warnings like I did my car.
See you on LinkedIn!
Did you enjoy this blog? For more of my content, sign up to receive my blog, personal and professional development tips, and book reviews! Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn, and kindly use the social sharing buttons to share this blog!
