How can you use social media to showcase your creativity and stand out in a competitive job market?

Know your platform and know your audience. So play into your strengths and skills while also showing up in those spaces where your key audiences are for a winning combination. It might feel like the best way to shine is to be ALL the places...but this might not work out the way you expect. Some of your content might play on multiple channels but not all platforms are created equal so be careful if considering a copy + paste technique.

Alright, if you're trying to showcase your creativity, you need to be on the platform where your audience hangs out. But it's not just about where they are; it's also about how they consume content. For example, Instagram is a visual playground—great for artists but not ideal for long-form writers. LinkedIn, on the other hand, is where professionals go for in-depth articles and industry insights. So choose your platform wisely, considering not just your skills, but also how you want to engage with your audience and what you're aiming to achieve.

LINKEDIN. LINKEDIN. LINKEDIN. LinkedIn is the world without gatekeepers. That hiring manager is literally on there right now. That CXO who you used to have to fight secretaries and assistants tooth and nail to get to... is scrolling their feed on their lunch break. In order for that to matter you have to put out content. Regularly. In networking, and especially personal branding on social media, it's as simple as being the loudest voice in the room regarding a topic you have expertise in.

It’s important to consider your strengths as well as your availability when choosing a social media platform. Some platforms grow with daily posting and interaction such as Instagram and X/Twitter. Others can be sustained with posting 2-3 times per week and that would include YouTube, LinkedIn and Podcasting and Streaming. What you have the time and energy to be consistent at matters.

Visual Storytelling: Craft a compelling narrative through eye-catching visuals that reflect your creative prowess, letting your work speak louder than words. Interactive Content: Engage your audience with polls, quizzes, and interactive posts, encouraging participation and creating a vibrant online community. Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse: Offer glimpses into your creative process, humanizing your brand and forging authentic connections with your audience. Timely Relevance: Stay abreast of current trends and events; align your content with relevant themes to stay relatable and resonate with your audience.

Do yourself a favor and do the personal brand work up front. It will be a time saver in the long-run when creating visual assets to pair with your written social content AND will create a cohesive vibe for your presence. Once you've chosen some core identifiers (logo, brand palette, content niche, etc.), you'll have the benefit of becoming recognizable just for the look and feel of your content. This will also help your presence come off as more polished and professional.

Creating a consistent brand identity is like giving your online presence a unique and memorable personality. It's like wearing your favorite outfit – people recognize you by it. To do this, use the same profile picture and handle across platforms, and stick to a set of colors, tones, and themes that represent your style. Keep your posts and captions in a consistent style and tone, just like maintaining a friendly conversation with your audience. Regular posts, mentioning your other profiles, and engaging with your followers all play a role. It's like leaving a lasting impression that showcases your professionalism and helps you stand out in your creative field.

The first thing that needs to be done is to show your real-life personality on your Social Platforms. In addition to having consistent profile details (Picture, About, etc.), there are other things too: - If you have a witty sense of humor, then your social post content must show it. You must write your comments, messages, etc. in the same way. - If you like motivating others, then mention quotes from popular motivational speakers in your content. - If you consider Social Platforms like your exact versions just in Digital format, then, creating a consistent brand identity would be a piece of cake.

I recommend creating a central document or folder that you share with your team, contractors, clients and even the public. Let everyone know what you stand for. This way everyone involved in your community can get on board to help your brand show up in a consistent way across every platform and communication channel.

Be true to who you are - always. Ensure that your tone of voice aligns to not only where you would like to work but also yourself as an individual. Remember that you're not only searching for a career match - you are searching for culture fit, a nurturing environment and the opportunity to continue to develop as your best self!

Sharing your original content doesn't need to be all business all the time. If you're passionate about heart-led leadership for example, there are hundreds of opportunities to storytell and insert humanity into your topic giving insight into the person behind the professional. Consider additional prompts like: - Sharing your origin story. - What's your why? - What did you want to be when you grew up as a child? Is it the same path you're on now? Or different? - What transferrable skills are you bringing to your career from prior roles or personal life lessons? These are all great jumping off points for relatable and interesting content to share with your audience.

In the second section of your social media manager portfolio, it’s time to showcase your skills and experiences. Social media managers need a variety of skills, such as copywriting, digital marketing, content strategy, analytics, research, and customer service. Show how you’ve used each skill in the past through case studies or stories about accounts you’ve handled.

Creating content for other people is a slippery slope. You risk compromising who you are in search of engagement and follows. It's better to simply talk about topics you're genuinely interested in, and post content you would stop and engage with yourself.

More than sharing information, what LinkedIn is looking for is consistency and personal takes and opinions, everyone knows AI will take over, but how is your take different from it and how can you make the difference.

In the world of AI, people are still drawn to human emotions, stories and experiences. Create authentic content around your journey, skillset, hurdles, accomplishments and work experiences. Examples of some good content formats and ideas are showing behind the scenes, adding testimonials and reviews, showing a glimpse of your knowledge through lead magnets etc.

Social is supposed to be social. These platforms are not a one-way dialogue. If your audience engages with you, it's only polite to engage back. Keep the conversation going. Take it to another platform. Ask additional engaging questions. Be SOCIAL!

If your audience have taken the time to engage with you, it's important to respond as it shows that you value them and that you're listening to them. Plus, it's a good way to start building up genuine relationships with people who may turn into loyal customers and even brand advocates!

The most important thing to do is lean into the "social" aspect of social media. Make genuine relationships, understand your peers, and figure out where you can offer help. Create unprompted content that solves their problems: - POVs - Platform Updates - Informational Posts

It's not called Social Network for nothing. Networking means just that: interacting, engaging, and responding. Keep the conversation going by responding quickly, addressing comments, and following up if necessary. Pay attention to feedback and take it seriously when the community expresses criticism. It's not just reactive CM that counts here, i.e. responding to your own comments, but proactive CM is particularly relevant. Write your own relevant comments and ask questions. Proactively approach others & actively expand your network.

This is huge right now, especially on LinkedIn. LinkedIn's recent algorithm updates will prioritize longer comment threads and "high-value" comments. So, get out there and say what you have to say! If you really want to grow your personal brand, you should be commenting on 10-20 posts (in your vertical) every day. Don't just say "??" though. Leave a comment that builds on the original post.

Much of this can be done right on the LinkedIn platform, making it easy for the audience who already engages with you here. It could be in utilizing the Featured section, Skills, or Recommendations. However it isn't enough to just sit back and wait for a recommendation, you need to take the initiative to reach out and ask. Don't be afraid to ask a manager, colleague, or client for a recommendation. And when you do, be specific and let them know you would appreciate it if they could highlight XYZ. Then go out and pay it forward. You tell people a lot about the type of person you are and what you value when you recommend or highlight the expertise of those around you.

Testimonials tend to hold more credibility when they come from a channel that is not your own. Consider sites like google my business, yelp, etc. Any place with a star rating really to mine for additional testimonials beyond what might be directly sent to you. Additionally, see if your client or customer would be willing to make a short video for you talking about their experience with you to enhance that level of credibility for the content.

I've encountered individuals hesitant to request client testimonials, fearing it might come off as pushy. However, this perception can be misleading. Consider this: How will others recognize your expertise if you don't showcase it to potential customers? To distinguish yourself, embrace the art of storytelling. Rather than simply presenting award recognition, delve into the backstory unknown to your audience. As an example, when I was named a finalist for the Global Student Prize, I shared how I initially withdrew my application, only to reconsider when the deadline was extended, leading to my eventual success. This serves as an inspiration to your audience, allowing them to feel more connected to you, which is precisely what they desire.

Here, too, the rule is: less is more. Not in the amount of services, but in the way they are presented. Be proud of what you have achieved. But don't flatter yourself; help others achieve the same. Create real value in their contribution & give helpful tips on how they achieved it.

Testimonials can add real support to your application. Consider reaching out to current colleagues and previous confidants - a moment of their time is all it takes to really support your future endeavours. If your contacts feel that writing a recommendation is too much; simply ask them to share your posts on platforms such as LinkedIn - this small act (literally two clicks?) can really help to grow your reach in an authentic way whilst still showing their support of you.

You can use social media to showcase your creativity and stand out in a competitive job market by being uniquely authentic. Share your original work, tell your story, and engage sincerely with your audience. Authenticity sets you apart and makes you memorable to potential employers.

Consider the timing and frequency of your posts. Consistent posting keeps you top-of-mind, but there's a balance to strike so you don't overwhelm or annoy your audience. Don't ignore analytics. They can offer insights into what's resonating with your audience, helping you fine-tune your strategy. Also, social media isn't just about online interactions; it can be a gateway to real-world networking. Attending industry events or webinars that you discover through social media can provide another layer of engagement and opportunity. Lastly, always be adaptable. Social media landscapes shift rapidly. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow, so stay updated and be willing to pivot your strategy as needed.

Network and Collaborate: Connect with professionals in your field and engage in meaningful conversations. Collaboration can help you gain exposure and credibility. Share Your Learning Journey: Share the books, courses, workshops, or conferences you attend. Highlight your commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement. Create a Blog or Portfolio Website: Link to your blog or personal website from your social media profiles. Use this platform to showcase your work in more detail.

The best time to plant an apple tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is today. Likewise, the best time to use social media to showcase your creativity and stand out in a competitive job market is when you do not need a new job. Start today! Plant the seeds. Grow your network. Engage. Become a contributing member of the community. When you need them, they will be there for you.

Don't forget to have fun. You can literally post gifs of cats and still have a job the next day. Ever heard of the doctor who posts cat gifs all day? No? Exactly! (He got fired... in case my joke didn't land, it's funnier face-to-face, I promise.) Anyway, I'm digressing. People are very conscious about the accounts they follow, they don't want to be sold a product or service every time you post. A few jokes here and there? Absolutely fineeeeee. Best-case scenario? Your brand becomes more approachable. Worst-case scenario? Usually, there isn't one. People consume so much content that they won't even remember what you posted a week ago.