The more eyeballs you can get looking at your social media profiles and posts, the greater influence you can have and stronger reputation you can build. Growing your audience and followers can be simple if you know the proper steps to take. These five steps will get you started on a robust social media presence.

 

Follow Relevant Professionals. Social media is here to stay. Many professionals have already jumped online and begun building their presence and reputation. Following these professionals allows you to see their posts and followers they have already acquired. Most will follow you back, thus beginning a relationship based on industry knowledge, conversation, and business expansion.

 

Post Regularly. The timing of posts is important. Avoid posting when people are rushing out the door in the morning or scrambling to get dinner on the table in the evenings. Instead, post relevant content early in the morning when professionals are checking their phones and getting their day situated. Add more content after lunch when people are heading back to their desks to close up their days. Also providing content regularly shows you are an active and knowledgeable resource.

 

Engage in Conversation. While providing a consistent flow of content is important, it is also necessary to engage in conversations you have not started. Is someone’s post trending? Reply with your own thoughts and professional knowledge. Different followers will be viewing your comments, which ultimately leads to an expanded network.

 

Stay On Topic. Don’t use someone else’s post to comment on a topic on your own agenda thereby hijacking the conversation. If you have a useful bit of information you would like to share with the followers engaging on a certain subject, post away!

 

Invite Colleagues and Clients to Join You Online. Always take the opportunity to let people know you are on social media. Telling family, friends, clients, and colleagues you have your own profiles will encourage people to follow you. Even this small personal network can grow rapidly as their contacts begin noticing your professionalism and resourcefulness.