How can social media help you find writing and speaking opportunities?

1 Choose your platforms wisely

Not all social media platforms are created equal when it comes to finding writing and speaking opportunities. You need to consider your goals, your niche, and your preferred format before you decide where to focus your efforts. For example, if you want to write long-form articles or books, you might want to use Medium, LinkedIn, or Substack to publish your content and reach a wider audience. If you want to speak at conferences or podcasts, you might want to use Twitter, Instagram, or Clubhouse to share your insights and engage with your followers. You don't have to be on every platform, but you should be consistent and active on the ones that suit your style and objectives.

2 Build your personal brand

Your personal brand is how you present yourself and your work to the world. It reflects your values, your expertise, and your personality. To build a strong personal brand on social media, you need to have a clear and compelling bio, a professional and friendly profile picture, and a portfolio or website that showcases your writing or speaking samples. You also need to create and share valuable content that demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and passion for your topic. You can use different formats, such as blogs, videos, podcasts, infographics, or stories, to showcase your creativity and versatility. The key is to be authentic, relevant, and helpful to your audience.

3 Network with influencers and peers

Social media is not only a place to share your content, but also a place to connect with other people who share your interests, goals, and challenges. Networking with influencers and peers can help you find writing and speaking opportunities, as they can offer you advice, feedback, referrals, or collaborations. To network effectively on social media, you need to follow, comment, like, and share the content of the people you admire and respect in your field. You also need to join and participate in online communities, such as groups, forums, or clubs, where you can interact with other writers and speakers. You should also reach out to people directly, via messages or emails, to introduce yourself, ask questions, or offer value.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?