Tagged Jessica Youngman:

Gearing Up

So, you’ve been asked by your company to go to a professional conference out of town, or even better, you took the initiative and asked to go. You have conference name, hotel, flight, and a basic but broad agenda of how you’ll spend your three days. Now what?

It’s hard to know what to expect from a conference. Is it business casual? Do participants attend every session? Do people socialize after? How many attendees should I expect? Understanding these various aspects of your upcoming event will help decrease nervous anticipation and ensure you arrive prepared.

Here are a few tips to get you ready to go:

  • Ask around your office. Has anyone been to the conference before who can share the low down with you? Ask around for special tips on what to take advantage of, what to skip, and maybe even a few good restaurant tips.

  • Google the conference. Go beyond the conference website and do a general search for recent news or other perspectives about the host organization online. You might find some new insight and information.
  • Connect.Get on social media. Is there a Twitter hashtag for the conference? A LinkedIn group? This can be a great way to not only find out logistical information but also start networking before you even get there.
  • Develop your pitch. You will be meeting lots of new people, so come prepared with your pitch: a 30 second blurb about who you are and why you’re there. Here are some helpful suggestions if your goal is to build business, and here’s a great tip for a job search pitch. For general tips on developing a strong pitch, check out one of JVS’s short podcasts.
  • Uniforms. Instead of bringing several options of clothing, take the time to pick out your outfits beforehand. With so much going on at the conference, you shouldn’t waste your energy worrying about your apparel while you’re there. Pack light, pick a color group to reduce the number of shoe, and make everything fit in a carry-on.

Before Your First Loop Around the Track

It’s 11:30PM. You’ve arrived and settled into your hotel room and lay awake in your king size bed thinking about the next morning. We’ve all been there. With new surroundings, strange sounds, stale air, and unfamiliar pillows, you just can’t fall asleep no matter how hard you try. And trust me, it’s the worst to be exhausted during a day-long conference while listening to numerous talks, networking, and always putting your best foot forward.  Here are a few strategies I’ve developed that help ensure I’m well rested and have an extra boost of confidence the night before a conference:

  • Explore. Walk around the hotel. Figure out which floor and area the conference will take place. Maybe even find out which room the session you’re attending will be in the next morning. No one wants to get lost and be late the first day!
  • Lay it all out. I know many of us stopped doing this after high school, but laying out your clothes, any materials, and your bag the night before can really help calm your nerves before the big day.
  • Early to bed. If you have trouble falling asleep away from home, lay down in bed an hour before you actually want to fall asleep. Read, turn on the TV, or count sheep, just give yourself time to wind down.

While You’re in the Groove

  • Get icy. I’ve found that always having a nice glass of cold water (versus room temperature) helps to keep alert and attentive during those not-so-engaging presentations you have to sit through.
  • Splurge. Sure, if you get a long enough break, feel free to go do some “treat yourself shopping” (as long as it fits into your carry-on luggage) but even more important, purchase a good cup of coffee in the morning. Hotel coffee is notoriously weak and not so tasty. Having a large cup of joe will give you the extra boost you need for that 7AM presentation.
  • Eat well. I know hotel food may not be spectacular, but don’t let yourself go hungry. Conference days are long and can be draining, so make sure you stay nourished. I suggest eating three meals a day plus two small snacks to keep your energy steady.

Crossing the Finish Line

  • Make friends. Don’t leave without making friends. They’ll keep you accountable as you internally debate staying though until the end of the day or try to sneak out early for some sightseeing.
  • Business cards. Set a goal to get a certain number of business cards each day and to give a certain number out to others each day. Ten per day for each is a reasonable and achievable goal.
  • End with a bang! Set up some action items with yourself or with others. It’s too easy to leave a conference and go back to life status quo. To make these events really worth it, set up some next steps before you even check out of the hotel. This could be anything, from scheduling a meeting, buying new software for your company, or linking on LinkedIn to anyone you want to maintain a relationship with.

Conferences are a great way to expand your network and business, as long as you utilize them correctly. From picking out your “uniforms,” looping around the sessions, all the way to the final moments as the conference winds down and you cross the finish line, remember to anticipate, prepare, and network. With these steps, I guarantee you’ll come out winning.

Additional reading for your conference prepping pleasure:

——————————————————————————-

Jessica Youngman is a regular contributor for the Levo League.
Nov 11
Nov 11

Hit the Road! Your Official Road Map to Work Conferences

Hit the Road! Your Official Road Map to Work Conferences

Posted on Friday November 11th 2011 at 09:46am. Its tags are listed below.


Hit the Road! Your Official Road Map to Work Conferences

Gearing Up

So, you’ve been asked by your company to go to a professional conference out of town, or even better, you took the initiative and asked to go. You have conference name, hotel, flight, and a basic but broad agenda of how you’ll spend your three days. Now what?

It’s hard to know what to expect from a conference. Is it business casual? Do participants attend every session? Do people socialize after? How many attendees should I expect? Understanding these various aspects of your upcoming event will help decrease nervous anticipation and ensure you arrive prepared.

Here are a few tips to get you ready to go:

  • Ask around your office. Has anyone been to the conference before who can share the low down with you? Ask around for special tips on what to take advantage of, what to skip, and maybe even a few good restaurant tips.

  • Google the conference. Go beyond the conference website and do a general search for recent news or other perspectives about the host organization online. You might find some new insight and information.
  • Connect.Get on social media. Is there a Twitter hashtag for the conference? A LinkedIn group? This can be a great way to not only find out logistical information but also start networking before you even get there.
  • Develop your pitch. You will be meeting lots of new people, so come prepared with your pitch: a 30 second blurb about who you are and why you’re there. Here are some helpful suggestions if your goal is to build business, and here’s a great tip for a job search pitch. For general tips on developing a strong pitch, check out one of JVS’s short podcasts.
  • Uniforms. Instead of bringing several options of clothing, take the time to pick out your outfits beforehand. With so much going on at the conference, you shouldn’t waste your energy worrying about your apparel while you’re there. Pack light, pick a color group to reduce the number of shoe, and make everything fit in a carry-on.

Before Your First Loop Around the Track

It’s 11:30PM. You’ve arrived and settled into your hotel room and lay awake in your king size bed thinking about the next morning. We’ve all been there. With new surroundings, strange sounds, stale air, and unfamiliar pillows, you just can’t fall asleep no matter how hard you try. And trust me, it’s the worst to be exhausted during a day-long conference while listening to numerous talks, networking, and always putting your best foot forward.  Here are a few strategies I’ve developed that help ensure I’m well rested and have an extra boost of confidence the night before a conference:

  • Explore. Walk around the hotel. Figure out which floor and area the conference will take place. Maybe even find out which room the session you’re attending will be in the next morning. No one wants to get lost and be late the first day!
  • Lay it all out. I know many of us stopped doing this after high school, but laying out your clothes, any materials, and your bag the night before can really help calm your nerves before the big day.
  • Early to bed. If you have trouble falling asleep away from home, lay down in bed an hour before you actually want to fall asleep. Read, turn on the TV, or count sheep, just give yourself time to wind down.

While You’re in the Groove

  • Get icy. I’ve found that always having a nice glass of cold water (versus room temperature) helps to keep alert and attentive during those not-so-engaging presentations you have to sit through.
  • Splurge. Sure, if you get a long enough break, feel free to go do some “treat yourself shopping” (as long as it fits into your carry-on luggage) but even more important, purchase a good cup of coffee in the morning. Hotel coffee is notoriously weak and not so tasty. Having a large cup of joe will give you the extra boost you need for that 7AM presentation.
  • Eat well. I know hotel food may not be spectacular, but don’t let yourself go hungry. Conference days are long and can be draining, so make sure you stay nourished. I suggest eating three meals a day plus two small snacks to keep your energy steady.

Crossing the Finish Line

  • Make friends. Don’t leave without making friends. They’ll keep you accountable as you internally debate staying though until the end of the day or try to sneak out early for some sightseeing.
  • Business cards. Set a goal to get a certain number of business cards each day and to give a certain number out to others each day. Ten per day for each is a reasonable and achievable goal.
  • End with a bang! Set up some action items with yourself or with others. It’s too easy to leave a conference and go back to life status quo. To make these events really worth it, set up some next steps before you even check out of the hotel. This could be anything, from scheduling a meeting, buying new software for your company, or linking on LinkedIn to anyone you want to maintain a relationship with.

Conferences are a great way to expand your network and business, as long as you utilize them correctly. From picking out your “uniforms,” looping around the sessions, all the way to the final moments as the conference winds down and you cross the finish line, remember to anticipate, prepare, and network. With these steps, I guarantee you’ll come out winning.

Additional reading for your conference prepping pleasure:

——————————————————————————-

Jessica Youngman is a regular contributor for the Levo League.

The Levo League

Posted on Monday October 24th 2011 at 09:44am. Its tags are listed below.

How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma (And Yourself) If you’ve spent any time with your parents in the last 4 years, you’ve probably had to field the question, “What’s a Twitter?”— reminiscent to the “Can I use the Google?” of the previous decade. Let’s face it: we have to be there for our parents, to whom the notion of social media doesn’t always compute. The difficulty, I discovered, in explaining Twitter to someone who doesn’t already understand it intrinsically is that while using the platform is one thing, using it effectively is another. And let’s face it: there are a lot of narcissists in a very bloated Twitterverse who areannoyingly self-centered. But Twitter can be a great tool when it’s used correctly. Hint: that’s not as a diary. So what is the “correct” use of Twitter? Well, it’s not described on the site: Twitter’s FAQ section states that Twitter is “a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People write short updates, called “Tweets” of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.” Um, thanks for that, Twitter. Let’s try this instead: in the olden days, a newspaper compiled many different pieces of news, information, opinions, &c. into one product that you held in your hands (for reference, this service is still available in many cities- no, seriously). If users subscribe to your Twitter updates, then they can see your headlines (tweets/posts). A bit like a newspaper. But because the distribution is online, a new element is added: a social element.Newspapers can be social, or at least, Gutenberg probably thought so. (Your grandma thinks so too, FYI). But Twitter makes the world of news interactive— instead of passively conveying news by paper, redistributors (or re-tweeters) can add in their commentary, or even engage the original author in debate! Think of that in grandma terms: who wouldn’t want to argue with Walter Cronkite about his reporting? Needless to say, there are more sophisticated levels within Twitter, but this information covers the basics. Why should you care about Twitter? Having a well-managed list of “People You Follow” on Twitter allows you to focus your news search to things you really care about. It’s a filter that lives in a newsspace far more immediate than a newspaper or even a radio. The fact is that for major news items, a trusted news source is probably still your best bet— but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow trusted news sources on your Twitter feed along with the rest of your sources. Just skimming the New York Times on Twitter in the morning can help you get a good idea of what longer-form news you need to catch up on. And you can show off the fact that you’ve read up, because you can retweet with your commentary immediately upon seeing the headline. You can engage specific Twitter followers in debate over a news item in real time. Notably, the template for Twitter social engagement is different than all previous forms of social engagement online. How? It’s not in “comment” format. Commenting can be great when the only readers of news are highly intelligent, critical, and well-read. But one only has to look at YouTube or New York Mag to tell that this is never going to be the majority of your audience (unless you’re lucky, like we at the L(L) are). Now That You’re Connected: Living Personal and Professional Twitter Lives The personal and the professional are difficult to mix. Women are often under more scrutiny when it comes to this balance: we have to create an image with intention that will withstand any and all scrutiny. If you plan for your Twitter account to function for your personal life as well as your professional life, here are a few words of advice:   Don’t post a seductive profile picture Don’t post pictures of you drinking with your friends Stay away from following your favorite reality television stars. Post where you’ve been rather then where you are going— both physically and career-wise Everything on Twitter is public, anyone can see what you’ve posted, including employers and colleagues (and believe it or not, they might judge you.) If you do want a personal account, consider making a separate and potentially more private account for this purpose. Privatizing this more personal account will let you to choose who can follow/see your tweets, protecting your guilty pleasures. Then you can go ahead and follow your favorite stars and Hollywood gossip and worry less about your professional image while still getting the latest and greatest.  It is important, though, to keep your professional account public, since you want to have a strong presence and you want people to be able to find you! Professional Use: Job Search and Public Relations Forbes recently reported that 89% of companies surveyed said they plan to use social media to recruit employees. Twitter counts. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Whether you work for a big or small company, make sure you know their social media policy. You can follow and engage your company’s partners, competitors, or even potential new clients. It’s a great way to increase community collaboration, get feedback on new products and ideas, find out client needs, do informal research, and ask or give recommendations. If you’re specifically using Twitter to promote yourself, whether for job search or your own business, the key is to always keep your goal in mind. Ask yourself, “What outcome am I looking to gain from using Twitter?”  (Some suggestions are: I want to build my personal brand, I want to be seen as an expert in my niche, or I want to drive traffic to my business). Follow people and tweet about things that align with your goals; engage with people that will enhance your community. For further reading on how various companies use and misuse Twitter: here’s a great place to start.Still need some on ideas how you can use Twitter?Here’s a great checklist from a California career expert, @TimsStrategy. The L(L) Twitter How-To Guide: Your Profile The only “profile” in Twitter is your “About me” section and picture. Keep the picture professional, just as you would in LinkedIn, and make sure your “About me” resembles somewhat of a headline. Think about what you specialize in, what you enjoy, what you plan to tweet about in a 1-2 sentence summary. People may very well find/follow you based on the description in the “About me” section, so make sure it accurately describes your presence on Twitter. Suggestions for how to find people to follow:   View Twitter’s Suggestions (based on who you already follow) Browse Interest (entertainment, business, charity, etc.) Find friends (via your LinkedIn, email address book, etc.) Search button (by company, field, job type, region, etc.) Looks at who the people you follow are following Look at who’s following the people you follow Strategies to make yourself more visible on Twitter: Include a link to your resume, LinkedIn page, or website in your bio (depending on your goal) Use keywords in your bio (industry lingo, adjectives, areas of expertise and interest) Link your Twitter to your LinkedIn page - tweets will go to both! (only for your professional account) Reply to tweets, Mention others in your tweets, Retweet others’ tweets Use (#) hashtags, like keywords, that others are using, or that are industry specific in your tweets Send direct messages Leave comments on others’ blogs that are linked to their Twitter profile Follow the companies, organizations, professional groups and thought leaders that represent or connect you with the industry, occupation and region related to you Now, go, be tweetful, and remember to tweet with care! ——————————————————————————- Jessica Youngman is a regular contributor for the Levo League.
How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma (And Yourself) If you’ve spent any time with your parents in the last 4 years, you’ve probably had to field the question, “What’s a Twitter?”— reminiscent to the “Can I use the Google?” of the previous decade. Let’s face it: we have to be there for our parents, to whom the notion of social media doesn’t always compute. The difficulty, I discovered, in explaining Twitter to someone who doesn’t already understand it intrinsically is that while using the platform is one thing, using it effectively is another. And let’s face it: there are a lot of narcissists in a very bloated Twitterverse who areannoyingly self-centered. But Twitter can be a great tool when it’s used correctly. Hint: that’s not as a diary. So what is the “correct” use of Twitter? Well, it’s not described on the site: Twitter’s FAQ section states that Twitter is “a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People write short updates, called “Tweets” of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.” Um, thanks for that, Twitter. Let’s try this instead: in the olden days, a newspaper compiled many different pieces of news, information, opinions, &c. into one product that you held in your hands (for reference, this service is still available in many cities- no, seriously). If users subscribe to your Twitter updates, then they can see your headlines (tweets/posts). A bit like a newspaper. But because the distribution is online, a new element is added: a social element.Newspapers can be social, or at least, Gutenberg probably thought so. (Your grandma thinks so too, FYI). But Twitter makes the world of news interactive— instead of passively conveying news by paper, redistributors (or re-tweeters) can add in their commentary, or even engage the original author in debate! Think of that in grandma terms: who wouldn’t want to argue with Walter Cronkite about his reporting? Needless to say, there are more sophisticated levels within Twitter, but this information covers the basics. Why should you care about Twitter? Having a well-managed list of “People You Follow” on Twitter allows you to focus your news search to things you really care about. It’s a filter that lives in a newsspace far more immediate than a newspaper or even a radio. The fact is that for major news items, a trusted news source is probably still your best bet— but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow trusted news sources on your Twitter feed along with the rest of your sources. Just skimming the New York Times on Twitter in the morning can help you get a good idea of what longer-form news you need to catch up on. And you can show off the fact that you’ve read up, because you can retweet with your commentary immediately upon seeing the headline. You can engage specific Twitter followers in debate over a news item in real time. Notably, the template for Twitter social engagement is different than all previous forms of social engagement online. How? It’s not in “comment” format. Commenting can be great when the only readers of news are highly intelligent, critical, and well-read. But one only has to look at YouTube or New York Mag to tell that this is never going to be the majority of your audience (unless you’re lucky, like we at the L(L) are). Now That You’re Connected: Living Personal and Professional Twitter Lives The personal and the professional are difficult to mix. Women are often under more scrutiny when it comes to this balance: we have to create an image with intention that will withstand any and all scrutiny. If you plan for your Twitter account to function for your personal life as well as your professional life, here are a few words of advice:   Don’t post a seductive profile picture Don’t post pictures of you drinking with your friends Stay away from following your favorite reality television stars. Post where you’ve been rather then where you are going— both physically and career-wise Everything on Twitter is public, anyone can see what you’ve posted, including employers and colleagues (and believe it or not, they might judge you.) If you do want a personal account, consider making a separate and potentially more private account for this purpose. Privatizing this more personal account will let you to choose who can follow/see your tweets, protecting your guilty pleasures. Then you can go ahead and follow your favorite stars and Hollywood gossip and worry less about your professional image while still getting the latest and greatest.  It is important, though, to keep your professional account public, since you want to have a strong presence and you want people to be able to find you! Professional Use: Job Search and Public Relations Forbes recently reported that 89% of companies surveyed said they plan to use social media to recruit employees. Twitter counts. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Whether you work for a big or small company, make sure you know their social media policy. You can follow and engage your company’s partners, competitors, or even potential new clients. It’s a great way to increase community collaboration, get feedback on new products and ideas, find out client needs, do informal research, and ask or give recommendations. If you’re specifically using Twitter to promote yourself, whether for job search or your own business, the key is to always keep your goal in mind. Ask yourself, “What outcome am I looking to gain from using Twitter?”  (Some suggestions are: I want to build my personal brand, I want to be seen as an expert in my niche, or I want to drive traffic to my business). Follow people and tweet about things that align with your goals; engage with people that will enhance your community. For further reading on how various companies use and misuse Twitter: here’s a great place to start.Still need some on ideas how you can use Twitter?Here’s a great checklist from a California career expert, @TimsStrategy. The L(L) Twitter How-To Guide: Your Profile The only “profile” in Twitter is your “About me” section and picture. Keep the picture professional, just as you would in LinkedIn, and make sure your “About me” resembles somewhat of a headline. Think about what you specialize in, what you enjoy, what you plan to tweet about in a 1-2 sentence summary. People may very well find/follow you based on the description in the “About me” section, so make sure it accurately describes your presence on Twitter. Suggestions for how to find people to follow:   View Twitter’s Suggestions (based on who you already follow) Browse Interest (entertainment, business, charity, etc.) Find friends (via your LinkedIn, email address book, etc.) Search button (by company, field, job type, region, etc.) Looks at who the people you follow are following Look at who’s following the people you follow Strategies to make yourself more visible on Twitter: Include a link to your resume, LinkedIn page, or website in your bio (depending on your goal) Use keywords in your bio (industry lingo, adjectives, areas of expertise and interest) Link your Twitter to your LinkedIn page - tweets will go to both! (only for your professional account) Reply to tweets, Mention others in your tweets, Retweet others’ tweets Use (#) hashtags, like keywords, that others are using, or that are industry specific in your tweets Send direct messages Leave comments on others’ blogs that are linked to their Twitter profile Follow the companies, organizations, professional groups and thought leaders that represent or connect you with the industry, occupation and region related to you Now, go, be tweetful, and remember to tweet with care! ——————————————————————————- Jessica Youngman is a regular contributor for the Levo League.

How to Explain Twitter to Your Grandma (And Yourself)

If you’ve spent any time with your parents in the last 4 years, you’ve probably had to field the question, “What’s a Twitter?”— reminiscent to the “Can I use the Google?” of the previous decade.

Let’s face it: we have to be there for our parents, to whom the notion of social media doesn’t always compute.

The difficulty, I discovered, in explaining Twitter to someone who doesn’t already understand it intrinsically is that while using the platform is one thing, using it effectively is another. And let’s face it: there are a lot of narcissists in a very bloated Twitterverse who areannoyingly self-centered. But Twitter can be a great tool when it’s used correctly. Hint: that’s not as a diary.

So what is the “correct” use of Twitter? Well, it’s not described on the site:

Twitter’s FAQ section states that Twitter is “a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People write short updates, called “Tweets” of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search.”

Um, thanks for that, Twitter.

Let’s try this instead: in the olden days, a newspaper compiled many different pieces of news, information, opinions, &c. into one product that you held in your hands (for reference, this service is still available in many cities- no, seriously).

If users subscribe to your Twitter updates, then they can see your headlines (tweets/posts). A bit like a newspaper. But because the distribution is online, a new element is added: a social element.
Newspapers can be social, or at least, Gutenberg probably thought so. (Your grandma thinks so too, FYI). But Twitter makes the world of news interactive— instead of passively conveying news by paper, redistributors (or re-tweeters) can add in their commentary, or even engage the original author in debate! Think of that in grandma terms: who wouldn’t want to argue with Walter Cronkite about his reporting?

Needless to say, there are more sophisticated levels within Twitter, but this information covers the basics.

Why should you care about Twitter?

Having a well-managed list of “People You Follow” on Twitter allows you to focus your news search to things you really care about. It’s a filter that lives in a newsspace far more immediate than a newspaper or even a radio.

The fact is that for major news items, a trusted news source is probably still your best bet— but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow trusted news sources on your Twitter feed along with the rest of your sources. Just skimming the New York Times on Twitter in the morning can help you get a good idea of what longer-form news you need to catch up on. And you can show off the fact that you’ve read up, because you can retweet with your commentary immediately upon seeing the headline. You can engage specific Twitter followers in debate over a news item in real time.

Notably, the template for Twitter social engagement is different than all previous forms of social engagement online. How? It’s not in “comment” format. Commenting can be great when the only readers of news are highly intelligent, critical, and well-read. But one only has to look at YouTube or New York Mag to tell that this is never going to be the majority of your audience (unless you’re lucky, like we at the L(L) are).

Now That You’re Connected: Living Personal and Professional Twitter Lives

The personal and the professional are difficult to mix. Women are often under more scrutiny when it comes to this balance: we have to create an image with intention that will withstand any and all scrutiny.

If you plan for your Twitter account to function for your personal life as well as your professional life, here are a few words of advice:

  •  
    • Don’t post a seductive profile picture
    • Don’t post pictures of you drinking with your friends
    • Stay away from following your favorite reality television stars.
    • Post where you’ve been rather then where you are going— both physically and career-wise

Everything on Twitter is public, anyone can see what you’ve posted, including employers and colleagues (and believe it or not, they might judge you.)

If you do want a personal account, consider making a separate and potentially more private account for this purpose. Privatizing this more personal account will let you to choose who can follow/see your tweets, protecting your guilty pleasures. Then you can go ahead and follow your favorite stars and Hollywood gossip and worry less about your professional image while still getting the latest and greatest.  It is important, though, to keep your professional account public, since you want to have a strong presence and you want people to be able to find you!

Professional Use: Job Search and Public Relations

Forbes recently reported that 89% of companies surveyed said they plan to use social media to recruit employees. Twitter counts. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

Whether you work for a big or small company, make sure you know their social media policy. You can follow and engage your company’s partners, competitors, or even potential new clients. It’s a great way to increase community collaboration, get feedback on new products and ideas, find out client needs, do informal research, and ask or give recommendations.

If you’re specifically using Twitter to promote yourself, whether for job search or your own business, the key is to always keep your goal in mind. Ask yourself, “What outcome am I looking to gain from using Twitter?”  (Some suggestions are: I want to build my personal brand, I want to be seen as an expert in my niche, or I want to drive traffic to my business).

Follow people and tweet about things that align with your goals; engage with people that will enhance your community. For further reading on how various companies use and misuse Twitter: here’s a great place to start.
Still need some on ideas how you can use Twitter?Here’s a great checklist from a California career expert, @TimsStrategy.

The L(L) Twitter How-To Guide:

Your Profile

The only “profile” in Twitter is your “About me” section and picture. Keep the picture professional, just as you would in LinkedIn, and make sure your “About me” resembles somewhat of a headline. Think about what you specialize in, what you enjoy, what you plan to tweet about in a 1-2 sentence summary.

People may very well find/follow you based on the description in the “About me” section, so make sure it accurately describes your presence on Twitter.

Suggestions for how to find people to follow:

  •  
    • View Twitter’s Suggestions (based on who you already follow)
    • Browse Interest (entertainment, business, charity, etc.)
    • Find friends (via your LinkedIn, email address book, etc.)
    • Search button (by company, field, job type, region, etc.)
    • Looks at who the people you follow are following
    • Look at who’s following the people you follow

Strategies to make yourself more visible on Twitter:

  • Include a link to your resume, LinkedIn page, or website in your bio (depending on your goal)
  • Use keywords in your bio (industry lingo, adjectives, areas of expertise and interest)
  • Link your Twitter to your LinkedIn page - tweets will go to both! (only for your professional account)
  • Reply to tweets, Mention others in your tweets, Retweet others’ tweets
  • Use (#) hashtags, like keywords, that others are using, or that are industry specific in your tweets
  • Send direct messages
  • Leave comments on others’ blogs that are linked to their Twitter profile
  • Follow the companies, organizations, professional groups and thought leaders that represent or connect you with the industry, occupation and region related to you

Now, go, be tweetful, and remember to tweet with care!

——————————————————————————-

Jessica Youngman is a regular contributor for the Levo League.

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