Savvy social networking in a busy, competitive world

Savvy Social Networking in a Busy, Competitive World

Millions of people use search engines like Google and Bing every day to find information, and some of those people are searching for information about you. A recent Microsoft-sponsored survey revealed that 79 percent of US hiring managers and recruiters routinely use the Web to research job applicants. If you’re looking for a new job, what are you doing to stand out from your competitors and make a positive online impression?

Social networking websites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have greatly changed the dynamic of the Internet. Web users once took a reactive approach to the Internet. But thanks to social media, you can now proactively build an online presence. Read on for tips on savvy social networking tools and how to create a sophisticated and search engine–friendly personal brand.

A full profile is a happy profile.

Social networking websites allow users to create extensive personal profiles. If you’re going to share your profile publicly, it’s in your best interest to include as many professional details as possible.

Elements of a successful professional profile include a positive and well-written biography, a tasteful headshot and direct references to your relevant skills and career history. If you also want to use your profile for non-professional purposes, you should use the website’s internal filters to separate what your friends and family can see from what strangers can see.

Be careful what you share online.

Once you’ve created a positive and professional social networking profile, you should take care not to tarnish it by sharing questionable content like inappropriate photos or status updates. You should always think about who might see the content before you post it. If you think that what you’re sharing could hurt your online reputation in any way, don’t post it.

There’s often a feeling among social networking users that what they post online is nobody’s business but their own. But that kind of thinking simply doesn’t reflect today’s digital realities. You must take just as much care to protect your reputation online as you do offline in this modern online age, which doesn’t distinguish between the two.

Put the “networking” in “social networking.”

Establishing positive and search engine–friendly social networking profiles is an important first step, but you can do more to stand out in a competitive job market. There’s a reason it’s called social networking. Social networking websites quickly and efficiently connect you with like-minded professionals in your field. Whether you’re job hunting or simply looking to expand your circle of friends, it pays to use savvy social networking.

Maintain a high level of professionalism when connecting with strangers online. Be polite, open minded and offer something of value. Pay attention to what your industry peers are sharing. Leaving intelligent comments on wall and blog posts is a great way to open the door to future conversations. Social networking also offers a valuable way to meet clients and establish a strong network of referrals for your business.

Think long-term about the information you share today.

You should treat whatever information you share on your social networking profiles as if it will last forever — because, in a sense, it will. For example, deleting your Facebook account doesn’t mean that someone else (or cached search results) didn’t previously capture the content. Information in the digital age has a way of quickly growing beyond your control.

Think of the information you share online as a digital tattoo. You might like it now, but your feelings could change down the road. It’s impossible to predict the future or know where you’ll be in 5, 10 or even 20 years. The only thing you can know for sure is that people will likely still be searching the Web — and you don’t want something you shared in your past to hurt you in your future.  Use savvy social networking and you'll be thanking yourself now and later.