Whether you’re enrolled for an undergraduate- or graduate-level online degree program, you’re sure to learn more about the advantages, possibilities, and potential downsides of online communication.

In India, three out of every four adults who use the Internet also use social media. That makes social media a powerful tool. But there’s a big difference between using online communication casually and using it for a specific purpose. If you master social media, you can build a professional presence more efficiently and potentially enhance your career. 

How to build an effective online presence ? 

You can’t build an effective online presence without understanding the benefits of doing so. From a professional standpoint, social media allows you to:

• Create a far-reaching network of peers and leaders in your chosen career area.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest ideas and trends in your field.
• Announce your accomplishments and present yourself as a thought leader in your profession.
• Share your knowledge and provide information that enhances your industry.

Know the Difference Between Social Media Platforms

Not every social media site is the same. Here’s a quick overview of the major areas and how professionals use them.

LinkedIn:  It is a professional network where you can establish your credentials through a résumé-style profile, post or share content relevant to your field, and connect with others who work in your industry.

Facebook: It’s an informal network where you can connect with peers and leaders more personally and participate in groups focused on specific topics.

Twitter: A sounding board where you can post 140-character thoughts related to your profession, follow other professionals, and share links to pertinent content.

YouTube: A video-sharing site where you and other professionals can post clips of motivational speeches, product demonstrations, lectures, etc.

Instagram: A photo-sharing site where you and other professionals can post images of new products, trade show displays, convention gatherings, inspirational ideas, and more.

Tumblr: A blogging platform that allows you and other professionals to write essays, commentaries, and how-tos focused on your industry.

Pinterest: An idea-sharing site where you and other professionals can share image collections, articles, and posts that you find interesting or inspirational.

How to start using Social Media effectively ?

Begin as a Follower :

If you’re not familiar with these online social platforms, educate yourself before you start participating. For example, many social media sites allow you to “lurk,” which is simply Internet slang for anyone who reads the posts of others without posting anything themselves. 

Observing in this manner allows you to see how other professionals utilise social media and helps you identify those with whom you’d like to connect.

Establish Your Presence :

Joining a social media network is a lot like walking in the door at an in-person social gathering. Yes, you can eavesdrop by standing in the corner all night, but the real point is to mingle and meet people. So how do you do that on social media? There are multiple ways to participate:

Like: 

Most social media sites allow you to click or tap a button to show that you “like” what another professional has posted, people find it gratifying to receive “likes,” and they’ll appreciate you for providing positive feedback.

Follow Back: 

When you get notified of a new follower who shares your professional interests, follow them in return. It’s an essential step to making connections.

Comment: 

Write a response to what someone else has posted. It can be as simple as a note of thanks, or you can ask a question or make a respectful remark with the intent of starting a productive, positive conversation.

Post: 

Share articles, personal thoughts, images, videos, and relevant content from credible sources. You don’t have to share much or share often, but posting is how you ultimately create your professional image. For your posts, share something you find interesting and think others in your profession would find helpful as well.

Hashtag: 

Hashtags (the # symbol followed by words) is a method of indexing. You can search social media sites by hashtags and get a list of all posts that use a specific tag. Tags don’t have to be registered; add a # symbol in front of a word or combined series of talks—with no spaces—and anyone who searches for that tag will find your post. Specific events and discussions will often use a hashtag. If you join a conversation with a hashtag, use the hashtag to increase the chances of people seeing your contribution.

Conclusion

Remain, Professional,

Behave respectfully in all of your social media encounters, just like you have done conversing with others in your online degree program. Keep your posts, comments, and other interactions focused on productive conversations about your industry. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a personality or that you can’t disagree with someone. You want to show your side and well-reasoned ideas because that helps make you more exciting and memorable. Just remember: You’re doing this for your career. Treat others as you would at your office or a conference, and you’ll put yourself in a great position to benefit professionally from social media.

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