Power Networking Primer presented during Black Enterprises Women of Power Summit, Feb. 26, 2014.

1. Power Networking Primer
To Boost Your Professional Profile & Network With Social Media
Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit
February 26, 2014
Jodi Brockington
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

2. Your Personal Brand
Social media is bringing the digital world and
professional world closer together, so a boost in your
social profile is also a boost for your professional profile.
Your Professional Profile
Marketing your professional attributes via social media
isn’t exactly the same as posting pictures of your recent
ski trip or sharing viral videos with your friends. In order
to raise your social presence to a professional level, you
must enhance your profile using social media.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

3. 1. Choose The Best Social Site For YOUR Needs
With all the social media sites to choose from, it’s important
to pick a site that works for your professional profile boosting
needs. The top platforms, of course, are LinkedIn, Google+,
and, if used responsibly, Facebook and Twitter. But, if you’re
not an avid digital networker, then you should choose one or
two sites that you’re most likely to use.
When it comes time for you to take the professional leap into
social media, it’s a good idea to ask your friends and
colleagues which sites they’re using and pursue those
platforms.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

4. 2. Network Like YOU Mean Business
If you want to keep your professional connections alive as
well as boost your profile, then you need to devote some real
time to social media. Checking in on your social accounts
regularly will result in you becoming a digital rock star.
Luckily, social networking on a professional level doesn’t take
that much work or time once you get into the swing of
things.
Being social on a professional level means updating your
profile on a regular basis, reading and responding to all
comments, and keeping track of your contacts’ profiles too.
Likewise, adding fresh content to social sites is a great way to
stay current, so try starting a professionally oriented blog and
link to it through your social media accounts.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

5. 3. Make YOUR Profile All-Inclusive
Whether you’re using Google+, LinkedIn, or any of the other
social networking sites, in order to reach maximum profileboosting potential, your social profiles should include all of
your professional information. LinkedIn, for example,
prompts users to include everything from work experience to
interests to education-try to get it to 100%.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

6. Presents
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

7. NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

8. The 1st Step to Leveraging Your Account
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

9. Professional Picture!
Targeted Headline
People with profile
photos are 7x more
likely to have their
profiles viewed!
Customized URL
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
CONTACT INFORMATION!
@FRIENDSOFJODI

10. Customize Your LinkedIn URL
www.linkedin.com/pub/jane-smith/239294/as83/lk294843543543543543
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

11. Updating Your Professional “Headline”
• Showcase Y-O-U
• Speak to your target
audience
• Use key words
• Be specific
• Be creative
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
MBA Graduate Student │Aspiring Company
Leader & Founder │Accomplished Blogger
National MBA President experienced in
Leadership Management, seeking Project
Coordinator opportunity in the NYC region
Inspired Women Rights Activist  Policy
Analysis Expert  Lawyer
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

12. NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

13. Add Skills!
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

14. Join Groups!
• University Alumni Groups
• Industry Professional
Groups
• Club/ Organization
Groups
• Places of Employment
• Job Forums
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

15. Ask for Recommendations!
• Reach out personally
• Follow-up with a LinkedIn request
• Outline what you would like the person to
highlight on
• Say thank you
• Remember it’s all about timing!
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

16. Follow LinkedIn’s Profile Suggestions
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

17. Become an Industry Expert!
Update your
status!
Attended Events,
Success Stories,
Projects, Current
Events, Etc.
Read relevant
articles!
Filter your
newsfeed to read
about targeted
groups/companies
/jobs
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

18. Now it’s Time to Start…
Connecting
Networking
and
Job Hunting!
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

19. Make Yourself Anonymous
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

20. Filter potential
connections by
previous/
current places
of employment
and by
education
Generates generic invitation
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
Delete people you
don’t know
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

21. Send Customized Invitation to VIPs
• Let the person know
how you know them
• Let them know why you
want to connect
• Have a goal in mind
(if necessary)
• No strings attached
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

22. Applying for a Job? Find Alumni!
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

23. Learning More About LinkedIn
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

24. Need More Help?
http://www.niaraconsulting.com
info@niaraconsulting.com
linkedin/in/jodibrockington
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@niaraconsulting
@FRIENDSOFJODI

25. 3. Make YOUR Profile All-Inclusive continued…
If the social sites you’re currently using don’t already ask for
it, make sure you upload the most up-to-date photo, contact
information, résumé or something close to it. Make sure your
photo is the same across all of your platforms.
Whether you’re applying for a job, looking for new customers
or other business opportunities via social media including
your bio, photo, résumé and any other pertinent information
will ensure your profile is in boosting mode regardless of
your career status.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

26. 4. DTM With Your Boosting Efforts
With all this talk about keeping your profile up-to-date and
current, it’s important to mention the dangers of Doing Too
Much (DTM).
It’s great to keep your professional circles aware of your career
status, but avoid changing your profile every time your boss
pats you on the back and for photos – especially if the site
you’re using pushes notifications to your entire social network.
If you digitally annoy all of your professional contacts, you
won’t have any left. As you know the same issue happens live
and in-person too. So, only make announcements of true
importance not for every little thing you do!!!
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

27. 5. Check YOUR Online Presence For Appropriateness
Even if your LinkedIn profile is as professional as possible,
you should realize that anyone can find you. So, before you
market yourself professionally through social media, make
sure you’re marketable.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

28. Cleanse your profile by seeking out those less-thanprofessional posts and pictures and setting them to private
or deleting them altogether. Also, one true signs of social
media etiquette is making sure your posts, comments,
tweets, and other social dealings are safe for professional
eyes. Finally, make sure to double check your privacy settings
as well to ensure that people that aren’t connected to you
don’t see updates that you don’t want them to see.
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI

29. By following the social media rules above, you’ll boost your
professional profile and improve your networking in no time at
all!!! To become a TRUE Master Networker it takes practice!!!
For more information and to set up a special
Power Networking Session
contact me
Jodi Brockington
info@niaraconsulting.com
NIARA Consulting
#FOJ
www.niaraconsulting.com
@NIARACONSULTING
@FRIENDSOFJODI