What an honor (and surprise) it was to have been chosen by FORBES as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Women for Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter for Business, Marketing and Technology Advice. I recently made the list of the “Top 50 Women You Should be Following on Twitter” (see post at http://sheownsit.com/women/) curated by the talented Melissa Stewart @MelissaOnline, Founder of She Owns It.
I’ve been asked on several occasions what I believe to be “my secret sauce.” While you cannot “get yourself” on those lists (it’s not a contest, a giveaway or a self-promotion nomination), with the right online behaviors, you have the ability to leverage the social media tools and networks to present a positive image, be recognized as an expert in your field or industry, or to be recruited for a position that aligns with your talents and passions (it has happened to me twice during my career where I’ve been offered fabulous positions by being discovered on LinkedIn, including my current position – more on that in an upcoming post: How to Use the Power of LinkedIn for Finding Your Dream Job).
Social media tools are becoming mandatory for personal branding and professional success. The digital assets: blog, social networking profiles, podcasts and videos – are your online identity and how people discover and connect with you.
I came up with 10 Tips I’d like to share with you – (those are applicable whether you are a male or female, an entrepreneur or professional. The 10 tips are surprisingly straightforward and but don’t be fooled by their simplicity. They work!!!
1. Be Visible – In order to be successful you have to be seen and heard.
2. Be an Up Lifter– Inspire people – think quotes, videos… People love my DAILY DARES on Twitter – pick something that fits your brand and style.
3. Add Value: The fastest way to grow your network and social influence is by becoming a valued resource and a thought-leader in your field, industry, or geography. You may also use life experiences to showcase transferable skills and adaptability.
4. Be Consistent and Stand for Something – when using social media consistency is of key importance. Choose your keywords very carefully. Have a keyword-rich bio and use #Hashtags to find individuals to connect with on Twitter as well as to be discovered and recognized for the topics that are relevant to your brand or business.
5. Get your personality in there. The beauty of social networking is that it’s driven by relationships. You build relationships by letting people see who you really are. That means showcasing your personality.
6. Be Transparent and Approachable by showing a certain degree of vulnerability – we all like to connect, engage and do business with people we know, like and trust. Be authentic and genuine – you cannot fake your way to a more authentic you!
7. Have the Right Mix of Tweets and Posts by sharing, educating and promoting (follow the 80/20 rule, better yet 90/10). In this world of “Real Time Business” we live in, everyone is watching… your customers or prospects, current or future employers, competitors… they see, read and listen to how you interact with others, and they form their opinion of you based on that.
8. Persevere even if don’t see immediate results … every time I felt like giving up on writing the DAILY DARES and providing my daily dose of inspiration on Twitter and on Facebook The Daring Woman Fan Page on Facebook, invariably on those days, I would get messages and/or comments thanking me for being such an inspiration or crediting me for some successes they’d achieved as a result of daring themselves by me daring them. You just never know who you might reach with your posts and tweets and the impact you might have on someone’s life or career.
9. Have an Impeccable Presence – Making a great first impression takes focus. You never know who is watching you. I had no idea that Natalie Sisson from Forbes was watching me or that Melissa Stewart was doing the same. Make sure that people will like what they see and that your online reputation is flawless. Google your own name and set up “Alerts” to monitor your online presence.
10. Realize that Social Media is a Powerful and Inexpensive Brand and Business Building Tool and Strategy to turn conversations and connections into clients, partners or employers.
The bottom line: “Be Yourself, Stay Relevant, Add Value and Always Remain Authentic”.
Your thoughts and comments are always welcome and truly appreciated!!
Gianluca Marcellino says
Thanks Francine: simple, handy, bold and … daring.
Daring to be authentic feels bold and reassuring at one time.
Francine Allaire says
Hi Gianluca,
Thank you for stopping. I appreciate your comments. A great book I recommend on the topics of trust, believability and authenticity is “Likeonomics.” A must read.
Have a wonderful week!
Rohit Bhargava says
Francine – thanks for all your support so far and for recommending Likeonomics. And congratulations on being selected by Forbes to be on this list of influencers … what a great and well deserved honor!
Francine Allaire says
Hi Rohit,
Thank you so much for your shout out and for stopping by in the midst of your busy schedule. I sure appreciate it -:) My pleasure on recommending Likeonomics. It is a great book and a must read. Please let me know if you’re planning book launch or speaking events in Los Angeles or Orange County.
Have a great day! All best,
Francine