Does it seem to you that everyone but you knows exactly what they’re up to in the online world? The tone to strike on social media. Which emoji to use when reacting to a post. When to go live on video. Even something as basic as whether to be your professional self, your casual self or some weird combination of the two can be a puzzle. Andrea Cannavina has advice on how to be in this strange land, without being a stranger.
Don’t Be Shy
In the online networking world, it’s really only about three things:
- Be yourself.
- Be a professional.
- Give, give, give.
Give out information.
Share what those you want to attract will find useful. There’s nothing better than a great resource. By making yourself into one, you significantly increase the likelihood that you’ll not only get noticed but appreciated.
Give out joy.
Seriously, everyone needs a laugh! The world is simply too tense. If you can make someone smile, chances are they will recall you fondly.
Give of yourself.
Everyone wants to connect but that won’t happen unless you’re willing to share. Let people know you knit, have played softball for the past 20 years or are a grandmother of five. Again, you want to maintain your professionalism, but you also want to give a bit of a peek into your personal world so people can connect.
Did you know that you have a mere seven seconds or less to make an impression in the online world? And you don’t get the benefit of all the visual and other clues one receives when meeting face to face. There is no way to firmly shake someone’s hand and look them straight in the eye. It makes it all the more important for you to make sure that anything published by or about you is polished and professional.
