By: Nicole E. Spears
The Scripps Summer Challenge program was introduced for the first time last week to help Scripps PRSSA members keep in touch, as well as in tune with their PR skills, over the long summer months.
Last week’s #ScrippsSummerChallenge asked Scripps PRSSA members to connect with a professional using social media. Unfortunately, we don’t have any testimonials to share with you this week.
Instead, here are some ideas of how you can use social networks to make new professional connections:
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Twitter: It may be the easiest way to start a conversation. Tag someone with an article you think they may be interested in, ask a question, or simply introduce yourself. Don’t forget that if they’re also following you, you can use a direct message to make a more legitimate connection.
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LinkedIn: It’s true that it is a bit counterproductive to “connect” with people that you don’t know on LinkedIn, but that doesn’t mean that you should rule it out for networking. Joining groups and starting discussions is not only great for finding new connections, but for continuing your education outside of the classroom or office. Also, check out this post by Cidnye Weimer about using LinkedIn for networking.
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WordPress: Reading is so important for young professionals, and a lot of great content is coming from fellow PRSSA members or colleagues. Use the WordPress reader to keep up with some blogs, and comment on posts that resonate with you.
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About.me: If you’ve seen other’s About Me pages, you might have thought they were simply a bio. However, an About.me profile is a great complement to a blog or website. By including your keywords, it can help build your online presence and SEO results, making it easier for others to connect with you.
How else do you make connections using social media?
Scripps PRSSA’ers, don’t forget to take part in next week’s Scripps Summer Challenge! Look out for the email about each new #ScrippsSummerChallenge on Monday mornings.