Tag: social media

Common Mistakes Made On Linkedin

On January 26, 2022

In Education, Leadership, Nicholas Fainlight

LinkedIn has rapidly become a powerful business networking tool with over seven hundred million users worldwide. It is now the world’s most powerful site for executive searches and career development, allowing both employees and employers to find and connect. Users tend to make common mistakes with their profiles, leading to missed opportunities. The following are common mistakes that you must avoid to grow your connections count and advance in your career using Linkedin:

A Linkedin Profile With No Picture

Many people forget about this step and end up with an empty profile image section. Your picture is part of your identity and makes your profile attract other users. Failing to include your picture is a huge mistake since it’s hard to make business contacts with someone who has no picture. Most people are visual beings, so if your face isn’t on Linkedin, your profile looks empty to them, and they will not be likely to engage with it.

An Unprofessional Photo

A professional headshot is best for this section. If you have a group photo of your friends or family, it will be difficult to identify yourself on the picture. Still, this kind of image is considered unprofessional by most people. According to statistics, other users are more likely to engage with you if your profile picture is professional.

No Personal URL

Adding a personal URL to your Linkedin profile is an easy way to make your profile stand out. It allows you to promote your professional website on Linkedin but remember to keep this URL exclusive for LinkedIn and don’t link it with any other site or social platforms. The URL makes a profile to be easily shared, which is a way of promoting yourself.

Lackluster Headline

Remember that your Linkedin profile is an asset and your headline is the first thing people see on your profile, so you need to make it count. It should simply and concisely state what you do and be relevant to the industry of your choice. Avoid using clichés and lengthy headlines, which will only discourage other users from engaging with your profile.

The Wrong Job and Skills Title

This mistake is probably one of the most common found in Linkedin profiles. When you are unsure what to put, keep it simple and relevant. For instance, if you are currently unemployed or doing some freelance work on the side, instead of putting seeker. Being specific is the key to making employers or other users understand you better.

When managed correctly, a LinkedIn profile is an asset that will pay off in the long term and help you succeed in your career. If you avoid these common mistakes and keep your profile accurate and concise, it will help people notice you.

How Public Relations Still Plays a Role in Social Media

By Nicholas Fainlight

On July 27, 2021

In Career, Finance, Investing, Leadership, Nicholas Fainlight, Technology

Most organizations have a well-structured public relations policy that has proven to be a more direct and result-generating channel for communicating with their stakeholders and getting almost instant feedback.

Before the advent of online and social media acceptance and robust growth, the otherwise accepted description of public relations relied primarily on contact and traditional modes of relations. It has, however, drastically shifted, with a lot of focus being directed towards social media. In this context, social media refers to the mainstream platforms that allow for remote interactions with an almost instant feel regarding interaction.

The exponential growth of social media

Social media has onboarded close to 4 billion users through the various platforms available to them, providing the various organizations a deep and ever-expanding pool of potential clients. A growing number of organizations have mastered the art of intertwining public relations with social media through their various interfaces that include mainstream avenues Like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

As of the end of the first quarter of 2021, internet accessibility was reported at 65 % of the world population, further compounding the overall penetration of social media. Organizations that have capitalized on their social media handles to drive their public relations policies are deemed to have a better reach and are better positioned to engage their current and potential stakeholders directly.

The case for public relations in social media

In general, public relations and social media have proven to be inseparable and to portend insurmountable synergy looking into the future. The necessity is of immense importance to the policymakers of organizations and businesses across the various levels. Under normal circumstances, the earlier the adoption, the stronger the foundation that the institutions can establish.

Social Media Marketing Through Instagram

By Nicholas Fainlight

On September 16, 2020

In Career, Investing, Nicholas Fainlight, postgraduate, Technology

Marketers using TikTok should consider switching to Instagram. The social media platform now offers Instagram Reels, which has many of TikTok’s features, including a way for new creators to find a following. Instagram’s Explore algorithm makes it notoriously difficult for marketers to have their Stories found. Brands can share their Reel to their Stories and their Profile’s Reels tab. Instagram users will also see Reels on their Explore page.

TikTok may not be around for long. A potential ban is leaving TikTok influencers asking their fans to follow them on other platforms. President Trump already signed an executive order barring U.S. companies from doing business with TikTok after Sept. 20th. American companies that violate the order could face a fine of up to a $1 million fine.

Marketers can get on Instagram Reels now and take advantage of new Instagram users influencers bring and the already one billion active users each month. Reportedly, Mark Zuckerberg is trying to lure popular TikTok influencers to switch to Instagram, which Facebook owns. Facebook has deep pockets too, deeper than TikTok, which is trying to keep influencers with incentives. Facebook’s rumored offer of bankrolling video clip production for influential creators to post their content exclusively on Instagram reels will be hard for TikTok to beat.

Only 28 percent of marketing professionals use Instagram. Expect this number to rise once Instagram Reels catches on as a way to reach a young audience with 15-second video clips with catchy music. Businesses have a chance to show off their fun side with authentic content on Reels. Humanizing a brand is an ideal way to build genuine relationships with their fan base. Features like Instagram Reels let brands showcase their personality.

Other marketers are considering educational content for their Reels. As Reels were released early in certain countries, brands have been sharing recipes and providing helpful tips. Sephora France already has popular makeup tutorial Reels. They encourage engagement by asking viewers about their favorite eye shadow color.

Marketers who start using Instagram Reels early on will find the competition is low in the U.S. market. With many influencers jumping ship from TikTok to Instagram Reels, it’s a great time for brands to find influencers to develop branded Instagram Reels.

Group of people sitting around a table with papers and computers, image used for Nicholas Fainlight blog about great networking sites

6 Great Professional Sites for Networking

By Nicholas Fainlight

On December 3, 2017

In Career, Nicholas Fainlight

No matter where you are in your professional career, networking is a vital part of ensuring success. Whether you’re looking for a new job, new employees, or advice, networking is the way to meet new people. Building an online presence and creating a professional look can be incredibly beneficial to your professional career, especially if you’re just starting out in your field.

LinkedIn

Obviously LinkedIn is the most obvious on this list. LinkedIn has almost 500 million members, so you know you’ll have the opportunity to connect and follow some of the most influential thought leaders from all over the world. This website allows you to fill in plenty of relevant information on your profile about your job and education history, any publications you’ve appeared in, and various other categories. There are also lots of sites that allow you to connect your LinkedIn, including lots of job search platforms.

Levo

While this website was originally started and directed toward young professional women, anyone can join and utilize it. Like LinkedIn, you can provide a variety of information about your professional and educational background, but there’s also more room for creativity and creating a unique look to your profile.

Beyond.com

This site isn’t nearly as large as LinkedIn, but it’s definitely useful when it comes to making connections and finding job opportunities. You can search positions by industry and also check out industry-specific content. You can make an account for free and enjoy many of Beyond.com’s benefits, but you can also purchase a monthly premium membership that features a few extra features.

Google+

You may have thought Google+ was not longer relevant, but for many industries, this website is their preferred platform. Whether you use Google+ as a social site or for more professional pursuits is up to you, but you can join various communities and contribute to collections on specific topics.

AngelList

This website is geared toward investors and those looking for investments, but anyone can join and use AngelList. If you have projects you’ve worked on and significant professional experience, AngelList is a great site to utilize.

Facebook

Facebook may be the last social network you’d expect to see on this list, but it can certainly be useful for networking. There are lots of groups and pages you can follow on Facebook that encourage networking, often for specific industries and niches. Take time to explore the groups and see what fits your professional career and interests. Just remember, if you’re using Facebook for professional reasons, make sure your profile is professional!