Making a Good Impression on Social Media

In 2019 your online presence is important, no matter what you are using social media for. Whether you are looking to use It as a business development tool or using LinkedIn as your second CV. You should be aware of the impact social media can have on both your job search and career. It is essential to know that both clients and employers are taking to social media frequently to decide whether or not to work with you. A bad social media can be detrimental to the success of landing a job or securing a new client.

Google Yourself

The best way to find out what your potential client or employer will see when they search for you is to Google yourself. To do this, open an incognito window on your internet browser and type your name in the search bar. Analyse each result and image that appears and look at what you is available. Once you know what is available to the public you can amend your privacy settings and change the content available accordingly.

The first item which comes up in the search results is important, employers or potential clients are more than likely going to click on this result when they search for you. So, ensure it is appropriate for what you would like anybody to see and what you want to be known for. 

Privacy

Privacy is important when it comes to maintaining a professional persona on social media. Make sure that any social media profiles that appear on any search engines are ones that you want to show up. If you can see your personal Facebook, for example, make sure that it is set to private. Consider what you would like a potential employer to see, if you insist on a public profile make sure your profile pictures and cover photos are professional and your profile conveys a professional version of yourself. 

Remove any personal information from your public profiles, including contact information, such as your address, email address or phone number. Personal information does not belong on your social media platforms as this can really cause unwanted contact and is available to anybody with a computer or a mobile phone.

Your Public Profiles

Any public profiles you have must have a clear and concise message and they should be full of up to date and relevant information. For example, if you are looking for a job, ensure your job history is clear on your LinkedIn and is positioned in linear way – with most recent roles at the top. Remember this is a great website to network with other professionals, a great business development tool and an ideal place to find a new role. 

If you are looking for a new role, make your profile punchy and include a line in your profile about your job search. 

If you are using any social media account for business development make it clear that is your purpose, as people don’t want to feel misled.  A good profile summary to explain what you do is great, like everything online make it clear and concise.

Share Content

Show you are passionate about your industry. Whether you are focusing on business development or looking for a new job, using social media to engage with other professionals is a great way to stand out. Like, comment and share content relevant to your industry. You could even try sharing your own opinions on current industry news or events. This could go for any social media site, if you are looking to make a great first impression or just general impression to your connections this is what you should aim towards.