How to Strengthen Your Professional Presence on Social Media
Social media is like a networking event open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It allows you to build your network, discover new opportunities, and establish your personal brand—if you use it effectively.
Follow these tips to create a strong and positive image on social media that can advance your career as we kick off the new year!
Professional Benefits of Having a Strong Social Media Presence
Position yourself as an authority
What you post on social media isn’t just for colleagues or personal connections—it’s for anyone searching for you. With 54% of hiring managers using social media to evaluate candidates (CareerBuilder, 2024), your activity can leave a lasting impression.
By sharing insights, thought leadership, and information about your industry, you can position yourself as a credible expert in your field and build trust with peers and potential employers.
Stay informed
Social media’s capacity for rapid information sharing has evolved significantly. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, 60% of adults in the U.S. get news from social media platforms.
By following industry news outlets, influencers, and organizations on platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), you’ll stay ahead of trends and updates that could impact your work.
Connect with movers and shakers
Social media gives us an unprecedented ability to connect with people anywhere on the planet, including leaders in your field. Where else could you send a direct message to entrepreneur Elon Musk or engage in casual banter with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson?
Connecting with like minds on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn empowers you to gain knowledge from diverse sources and interact with people you’d otherwise never meet face to face. Building these connections can open doors that would otherwise remain closed—a 2023 study by LinkedIn found that 85% of all jobs are filled via networking.
Discover new opportunities
A professional presence on social media makes it easier for opportunities to find you. Most recruiters regularly use LinkedIn to source talent and open conversations with prospective candidates. It’s a great way to hear about open jobs directly from those responsible for filling them.
Insider tip: To appear in recruiter searches, keep your LinkedIn profile updated with keywords relevant to your industry.
Make a positive impression
Your social media profile is the modern-day business card. It’s your chance to make a memorable first impression on anyone who looks you up.
How you present yourself online—through your profile, posts, and interactions—can showcase your professionalism and personality.
Related: Do You Need a Digital Resume?
5 Steps to Improve Your Professional Social Media
1. Pick the right platforms
You don’t need to be active on every social media platform. Instead, focus on one or two that align with your career goals. LinkedIn is a must for most professionals, while platforms like Instagram, X, and YouTube may be the best fit for your industry.
Examples:
- Educators: YouTube for sharing expertise
- Graphic designers: Instagram or Pinterest
- Digital Marketers: X for industry conversations
2. Go private on personal accounts
Once you decide which platforms to focus on, you don’t have to stop using the others. However, it’s a good idea to consider setting your profile private, especially for personal use.
But what if you don’t share anything controversial on your personal profiles? Do you still need to make them private? I say yes, and here’s why: When using a platform professionally, you should consider everything you post, sharing content that contributes to your personal brand (more on this below). But on platforms for personal use, you don’t generally think very carefully before hitting ‘share’ on a funny meme or uploading a cute picture of your kid.
There’s nothing wrong with this kind of content, but when it’s not shared with intention, it can detract from or conflict with the professional brand you’re working hard to build. So, better to just set it to private so you can post what you want when you want.
3. Refine your profile
Use a clear, smiling headshot and complete all profile sections, especially on LinkedIn. Highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments. According to LinkedIn, profiles with photos receive 21 times more views and 36 times more messages.
4. Develop a posting strategy
Consistency is key to maintaining an active presence. Aim to post at least once a week, sharing content that reflects your professional brand. Examples include:
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Industry news or insights
- Thought leadership posts
- Success stories or project highlights
Before you hit ‘publish,’ it’s helpful to ask yourself, “Does this contribute to my professional brand? If so, how?” You may want to think twice if the first answer is no or the second answer is unclear.
IInsider tip: If you need assistance creating content, we suggest using Canva to edit pictures, create graphics, and make videos.
5. Build meaningful connections
Networking on social media is about quality, not quantity. Dedicate time weekly to engage with professionals in your field by commenting on their posts, sharing their content, and sending personalized connection requests.
Consider your real-world friendships. You don’t just say “Hi” to someone one time and become best friends. Instead, the relationship is built over time–you check in on one another, listen to each other’s stories, support one another, and so on. Meaningful relationships grow over time, so invest in consistent interactions to foster trust and collaboration.
3 Professional Social Media Mistakes to Avoid
1. Sharing content without credit
Always credit the original creator when sharing someone else’s work. Giving credit is easy—tagging them with “@” and adding your thoughts shows professionalism and respect.
2. Taking a ‘me first’ approach
Avoid cold messaging people with requests before building a relationship. Instead, engage authentically and let opportunities develop naturally.
3. Bad-mouthing employers
Never post negative content about your employer, competitors, or coworkers, even on your personal profile set to private. It’s a major red flag for recruiters and hiring managers. As a rule, assume everything you post could resurface, even years later.
By making a conscious effort to establish a knowledgeable and professional presence on social media, you’ll meet helpful people, develop a strong reputation and maybe even land your next job.
