Whether you’re going for a new role high up in a cutting-edge company, or are trying to get a book deal for that magnum opus you pulled out of the bag during lockdown, you’re likely going to hear one thing at every corner – the need for a ‘strong’ social media presence. After all, talent isn’t enough anymore – we also need to know how to sell ourselves!
Unfortunately, while companies are more than happy to spout this stuff, few of them will ever give a definition of what they actually mean by this. Worse, many companies seem to have very different definitions, even among themselves!
Luckily, if you’re in the mire of missed opportunities because you failed to make social media work for you, then some seemingly universal focus points could finally turn things around. Here, we’re going to look at what those are, and how they could help you moving forward.
# 1 – A presence that’s easy to find
Often, a strong social media presence refers simply to an online presence that’s easy to find. Really, this increased visibility is why companies value social media in the first place – they want to make sure that they, or their customers, can search your name on Google and find you without having to scroll for hours. Luckily, the more social media platforms you’re on, the better chance you have of achieving this goal organically. That said, if you’re unlucky enough to share a name with a celeb or influential figure, then you may have to work a bit harder, perhaps even calling on the services of an SEO agency to help you secure those top spots against all odds. Either way; appearing within Google’s top three is probably just what companies are looking for.
# 2 – A willing audience
Social media is also increasingly becoming a platform for influence – hence why it’s become such a career prerequisite. If you’re trying to do something alone, especially, an audience that hangs on your every word is key. While this audience focus used to centre around whoever had the largest social media following, the rise of the micro-influencer, and the realisation that smaller, solid followings are often more likely to convert, means that you can largely leave the numbers race behind. Instead, focus on commenting and interaction within a small, intimate following that sees you as a friend, and trusts your recommendations as a result.
# 3 – Regular activity
While there’s debate about what makes a ‘strong’ social media presence, one thing is always true – this does not mean a load of inactive pages that you’ve started purely to say that you’re online. Rather, remembering that companies value social media presence for its potential conversions, you need to be posting regularly (as much as three times a day if you can,) and engaging with an audience in the moment. This proves to a company that you’re a fresh, viable prospect they could benefit from having on their books. Social media presence doesn’t really get much stronger than that!
