How To Effectively Network On Social Media

Networking online and making connections is more important than ever especially if you move abroad and don’t know anyone, or want to change jobs. Yet it isn’t always easy to network on social media. In fact, at times it can be downright intimidating.

Sites like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook can be amazing tools for expanding your network, and when I moved overseas, social media helped me to make friends and find opportunities. I just had to push myself out of my comfort zone – and have a lot of patience to get positive results.

These are some ways that you can effectively network on social media.

Build Your Social Presence

Building an impactful social presence and a strong network isn’t easy and takes time, but it’s very doable.

The key is to try and avoid spreading yourself too thin. So you need to decide where you want to focus your effort. Choose one or two sites where your ideal network hangs out and create your business and/or personal accounts. Then as your network grows, and you gain experience you can add more sites. An easy way to start building your network is by inviting people that you already know to connect with you like friends and family and encourage them to share your content.

Authenticity Does Matter

There may be about a billion people on Instagram but there is only one you. So don’t try to be like everyone else online. You need to stand out not blend in with everyone else. Own who you are, and you will attract the right people.

Focus On Quality Over Quantity

Your network should grow naturally over time, so it is a marathon, not a sprint. What matters most is the quality of social interactions on your account, not the number of followers you have so don’t get caught up in a numbers game.

Concentrate on posting quality content and try different ways to drive engagement with your audience. Likes, comments, shares, and saves are far more important than your follower count.

Post Engaging Content

Brainstorm engaging content to post on your social media sites. Your goal is to foster a community of like-minded people who will interact with you and share your content. Plan your content ahead and publish your posts at optimal times.

Think of a handful of topics that you can consistently share content about. An easy way to do this is to think of up to 9 to 12 categories that are a mix of who you are/things you love, your business/services, educational topics, and behind-the-scenes of your life or your business. Consistently share fresh content with your audience. Monitor the performance on your accounts and keep track of what types of content are resonating with your audience so that you can add more of it. You could also look at other people’s accounts for inspiration.

Also, do not just post on your own pages, engage with people on other social pages as well by getting involved in conversations and sharing content.

Don’t Be A Pushy Salesperson

Avoid lots of hard-sell content about you and your business online as it will come across as pushy, and sleazy and it will push people away from your network. So don’t focus all of your social media content on your business and selling your products or services. An ideal mix of content is about 80/20 where 20% of your content is on your business and promotions and the rest is a mix of who you are, educational topics, behind-the-scenes, etc.

Be Present & Sociable

Make an effort to interact with other people online. Don’t just post your content online and disappear. Spend some time once or twice a day engaging with other people’s content.

Join online communities like Facebook groups, introduce yourself, and engage with people. Don’t just post about your business or try to get sales. Focus on getting to know people and providing value by helping people when you can.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to just be yourself and make an effort to be sociable.

Learn More About Living Abroad

• Lessons Learned From Living Abroad In Canada
• How To Deal With Homesickness While Abroad
• How To Move to A New City Alone Successfully
• Important Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Move Abroad
• 25 Ways To Meet People & Make Friends When You Move To A New Place
• 9 Personality Traits Expats Need To Live Overseas Successfully
• How To Effectively Network On Social Media
• 6 Reasons To Join A Professional Association

Give It Time

You’ve got this! and if you need more help just give me a shout. 

Gemma Lawrence

Gemma Lawrence is the creator of This Brits Life. Born and raised in England, she has been living in British Columbia, Canada as a permanent resident since 2016. A solo traveler for the past 9 years, she hopes to inspire and help others to enjoy solo adventures too. As someone who has always struggled with her self-confidence and mental health, she also shares tips and inspirational stories relating to self-love, self-care, and mental health.