Just Be You: Tips for Professional Networking in the Digital Age

I was recently asked to speak at a workshop about managing professional identities.  I don't claim to be an "expert" on this topic, but I've certainly learned a lot about it in recent years--both a scholar and an agent of the digital world.  So, I created a brief list of tips, with a specific emphasis on social media and personal websites.  I hope they're helpful.  And of course, please share your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter. 
 

• Be active
  • Don't spread yourself too thin
  • Pick a few outlets and keep them updated
    • Sites that are updated too infrequently may lose traction or even reflect negatively

• Be present
  • Don't be afraid to interact and reply
  • Engage in conference "backchannels"
    • You'd be surprised at how much can come out of these conversations
  • Connect in person when you can

• Be consistent 
  • What is your site/account for?
    • Make a decision and make it right (i.e. follow through)

• Be adaptable
  • It's okay to change your mind, or your focus, as long as you come by it honestly

• Be (somewhat) strategic
  • Build and manage your own "personal brand" (I'm not sure I like this phrase, but there's a lot of truth to it)
    • It's not just about advertising; Networks are built on interaction
  • Know your audience
    • Disciplinary colleagues, public, students, media, etc.
      • It may be difficult to serve more than a few at once

• Be engaging
  • Find communities to join
  • Link early and often
  • Don't be afraid to "think out loud"
    • This is (part of) what's so interesting about public scholarship

• Be valuable
  • Define an audience and serve some function(s)
    • Curating is good, but don't just share others' posts

 

• Be an advocate for yourself
  • Think about how you can amplify your work
    • Share, "pin," and/or promote
    • use appropriate #hashtags and/or @mentions 
      • I have posts that earned over 10,000 impressions (even though my network of followers is little more than 1,000) simply because it was "retweeted" (shared) by larger gatekeepers

• Be aware
  • Know the limits of your platform(s)
    • How public?
    • How anonymous?
    • How contextual?
    • How ephemeral?
      • Each of these will influence how your posts are received

• Be you
  • Project your identity as you see it
  • A little humility goes a long way, but don't be afraid of a little self-promotion

• Be prepared to respond to backlash
  • Public scholarship has it's downsides, especially if your work or identity operates on the margins
  • Be respectful, especially if you disagree
  • But, beware of feeding the trolls
  • Knowing your platform and having a response plan can help minimize stress and unwanted publicity