Diving Headfirst Into Social Media

Diving Headfirst Into Social Media
How (And Why) Every Professional Can Delve Into The World of Social Media

Social media users worldwide have quickly recognized the value of subject matter experts, and that’s because there is a very special place on social media for experts in their fields. A sweet spot, so to speak.

You may think of social media as younger people dancing in little videos on apps like TikTok, Elon Musk making authoritative remarks on Twitter that seem to sweep the whole internet, or the likes of influencers showing off clothes, beauty products, and more.

But in reality, that content is skimming the surface of what the internet has to offer social media users who are looking for something more substantial. With the influx of content creators, social media users are increasingly searching for rich, engaging, and authentic content to consume. Seasoned professionals with years of experience and expertise are perfectly aligned for generating and delivering that content, providing that they take the leap.

If you have been contemplating a foray into social media, this is your sign to start!

Let’s look at how you can plunge into social media when you’re starting from scratch.

How to start exploring social media

Reaching people interested in what you have to share requires you to explore much further than the realm of Facebook and the account you created 10 years ago to post pictures of your family. Or scroll through Facebook Marketplace for the best finds.
1. Deciding on the right platform
The objective of social media is to impact people positively and reach as many of the “right” people as possible. Starting your social media journey begins with understanding what the different platforms offer.

LinkedIn is a great space to gain traction amongst professionals and companies. Videos and written posts are the best format on this platform, particularly if you want an audience interested in growing a business, networking, or marketing.
Facebook is an excellent platform for creating close-knit and supportive communities with Facebook Groups through short-form content, written text, and other versatile content creation. Facebook Pages are another alternative to reach a wider audience.
TikTok is known for short-form videos focusing on fun and engaging information, mainly targeting a millennial and Gen Z audience. It is one of the most popular social media platforms and provides an opportunity to grow a large audience online through short-form, punchy content.
Instagram is all about connection and community, requiring short videos, or Reels, focused on inspirational, educational, and aesthetically pleasing content. If you want to create a real-time community online, then Instagram Stories offer a unique opportunity to do just that.
Twitter is all about sharing short text with supporting images and relevant hashtags. Twitter is a great way to build a community if you are not too keen on showing your face or filming videos of yourself.
Threads is Instagram’s latest version of Twitter. With the rapid way that Twitter is changing, content creators enjoy the reliability of this fast-growing platform.
YouTube is a platform for long-form social media content. Using Youtube as a basis for your platform is a great idea, as you can deliver informational and engaging information through long-form content. But you can also create shorter videos for your Youtube content to create short-form TikTok and Instagram content.
2. Follow Fellow Creators
Following fellow creators in the niche that you would like to occupy is a great way to “stay in the game” when it comes to social media. It’s also a great space to start gathering ideas for content creation.

Alternatively, follow creators whose content you enjoy to understand what resonates with their audience. This way, you can see what works well and start implementing a similar objective into your content.
3. Consider an objective
As a subject matter expert and a professional, you have plenty of interesting information to share, thanks to your years of experience and knowledge.

But you may be asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” Generating an objective can make it easier to start sharing by answering “Why” you want to share content and what your aim in doing so is. Do you want people to understand your industry better? Do you want to share the inner workings of your field?

Once you have gained some traction on social media, your audience can give you some indication of the content they enjoy. This will allow you to continue growing and expanding your content while keeping your objective at the forefront.
4. Create a content plan
As a consummate professional, you have tons of knowledge to share. But creating a content plan can make it clearer how to start and how to share all that information in an easy-to-digest way.

Sharing content from your professional life is akin to creating a brand. Creating a successful personal brand requires some cohesiveness across your content. Creating a content plan is the best way to establish that cohesiveness.
5. Start creating!
You may want to plan and then plan again, but often times the best way to “stay in the game” is to start. Content planning, following an objective, and using the right platforms are important.

But simply starting is the most important step that you can take. It can be daunting to get behind the camera and put yourself out there, but there is so much to gain from simply starting on your content creation journey.

Why should you enter the world of social media?

While you may believe there is a space for you on social media, it can be daunting to undertake something new and launch yourself into a fresh adventure. But there is a huge amount of satisfaction to be had from rising to the challenge and trying something new that is out of your comfort zone.

Doing hard things like choosing to be a beginner at something will increase your confidence exponentially. It will also allow you to connect with new people online in unique and powerful ways, all while you are sharing something that you are passionate about.

Social media has so many things to offer, just like you have so many things to offer social media users! This is your sign to dive headfirst into an exciting new way of interacting with the world around you through social media.