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Before you register your Twitter handle and begin tweeting to your Tweeples, or for those of you already dabbling in the world of Twitter, take heed of the following tips to avoid tarnishing your personal brand while networking online.
Step One: Developing your bio:
@annemariecross Savvy #jobseekers use their own names to enhance their online presence. Do you?
I often read Twitter handles that make absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. Remember, you are trying to build your online profile so don’t hide your identity behind an obscure ‘handle’ ie @mamafly. Rather, use your own name as each of your twitter posts will therefore include your name, which then becomes searchable on Google.com – thus enhancing your Google ranking.
@annemariecross #Jobseekers: Be Twitter savvy. Develop a powerful bio that states ‘hire me’ when read by one of your Tweeples.
When a Tweet catches my interest I personally like to read the author’s bio to find out more about the person. I’m often surprised by the lack of thought that people put into their bios, or worse yet, they haven’t written anything at all.
Your bio should be succinct and explain what you do in a benefit-driven approach. This should spark people’s interest and desire to follow you and get to know you and what you do at a deeper level. Remember, this is all about showcasing your personal brand and confirming why you would be an ideal candidate for their organisation.
@annemariecross #Jobseekers: your bio link should direct visitors to a professional web portfolio or your LinkedIn profile. Showcase your expertise.
Ensure the link you provide on your profile is either your online web portfolio (your online resume) or a website that provides further information about you, your expertise and overall value you offer a potential employer.
You could consider linking to a blog (which should be updated regularly), or your Linkedin.com profile, which should be up-to-date with all relevant and pertinent information about you and your experience.
Step Two: Building and maintaining your personal brand:
@annemariecross #Jobseekers: be Twitter savvy. Tweet interesting stories & ideas. Don’t tell yr followers about what you had for dinner.
Online communications are just as important as offline communications and your approach must always be professional. Your tweets, replies and any other information/links you share are an extension of your personal brand. Therefore, whatever you post must add value to you and your brand. If you wouldn’t want a potential employer to read your tweet, don’t post it.
This reminds me of a story I heard a while ago. An employee was sitting at her desk and Tweeted that she was totally bored at work. The fact that she made this comment was a total oversight on her behalf, especially since she divulged her employer’s name to thousands of her followers. It wasn’t long before the post got back to her employer (via a journalist who stumbled across the original tweet), and the employee was promptly reprimanded. What on earth made her tweet such a post, I’ll never know. I’m sure she’ll never post anything like that again.
Step Three: Developing powerful relationships:
@annemariecross #Jobseekers: be Twitter savvy. Build solid relationships by sharing valuable info. Don’t spam followers with only self-promotion.
Continuously posting information about yourself is only going to turn your followers off, with the likelihood that they’ll un-follow you.
A great principle to follow is the 80/20 rule. This is a great model that will allow you to create interest in what you do while also continuing to build relationships with your followers. This is where 80% of your tweets are of a professional nature and 20% about you personally.
@annemariecross #Jobseekers: be Twitter savvy. Become a resource for your followers by writing blog posts and articles that are of interest.
Become a resource-developer by writing your own blog posts and/or articles to demonstrate your experience and knowledge on a particular topic, which again should strengthen your brand and reputation as an expert in your industry/role.
Alternatively, consider becoming a resource sharer, especially if you’re unsure what to write about. Comment on other people’s blogs and/or articles (that are relevant to your field of expertise) and then post a link on your tweet of the link back to that article.
By following the above tips and posting regularly on Twitter you’ll soon develop a solid list of followers (your Tweeples) who all become part of your network. Twitter is also a great research tool. Not sure of something – ask away and before you know it, you should receive many responses from your network of followers.
Happy Tweeting, and be sure to connect with me: @annemariecross and @careerradio.
Till next fortnight…
Annemarie |
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