Being Intentional about Building and Maintaining Social Networks

Being intentional about our posts shows that we are being deliberate about what we are posting. We are sharing what is most important to us. The one thing you can control is what you share on social media. What you can’t control is how that information is interrupted by others. By being intentional and mindful about your posts shows thoughtfulness, purpose, and your desired outcome. When you are consistent about posting on your social channels, you will find that your followers will increase over time, and you will be able to find like-minded people to connect with online. 

If you are looking to make connections, be sure to choose the right social media platform for the right connections. You may find that your next job opportunity comes from a connection from a very different platform that you used to find people to game with. Keep in mind that what you post on the platform you use for personal fun it is likely accessible to the person who is making their next hire and could use what they find on there as a key factor in their hiring decisions. 

You can be more thoughtful about your posting habits by asking yourself the following before hitting the share button: 

Once you are comfortable with the answers to these questions, then post away! 

If you are looking to build your social network, ensure that you are posting regularly. Use current and appropriate hashtags for people to find your content. If you are at an event, follow those hashtags, comment on the event posts, and connect with other people who are also engaging with those posts. Another way to build your network is to follow profiles that have similar interests as you do and engage with those.  

Another habit you may want to develop is one of auditing your social networks. Look at your older posts. Do they still align with how you want to present yourself online? It is okay to remove posts that no longer serve your intentions with your social media. You may have been focusing on a specific area of your life, but now have new goals and purpose. Removing old posts that could be harmful to your career, to new friendships and really, to strangers, is the right thing to do. Maintaining a social media presence that is accurate and true to who you are is exhibiting intention. 

For more advice check out AgCareers.com’s Career Success Library.