4. Boost your field knowledge
Bump up your professional IQ by using social media to get in the know regarding industry happenings. Aside from giving you access to the profiles of industry colleagues, LinkedIn offers a bevy of industry-specific groups where you can not only meet new people but get information and advice via articles and open forums. Online “how-to” site Lifehacker recommends using Twitter’s advanced search options and hashtags to find job and industry related tweets. The more you know, the better a conversation with an industry insider can go, the bigger chances of nailing a new contact.
5. Go Offline
Once you’ve introduced yourself online, take the connection to the next level: ask if they’d like to have a meeting or a phone call. Llarena remarks that relying solely on social media to network is another common mistake. Dan Klamm and Alana Edmunds for Mashable.com say body language, eye contact and tone of voice are imperative to establish a properly solid professional relationship. Video call service, Skype is also a good option when meeting in person is not. You can still see and hear each other from your respective ends of the world.
For more information on how social media can help you professionally connect to Melissa Llarena at melissallarena.com.