As the year winds down and another arrives, the word “resolution” resurfaces. Many resolutions pop into my head. Mostly the typical ones, but one topic comes to mind as it has practically become my life. I live, eat, and breathe social media nowadays. Not just for personal usage, but for work purposes too. I have been blessed with an amazing opportunity to gain experience and work in a field that I always imagined myself to be in thanks to Harness TechED. Not many people can say that.
Since social media sprouted from the ground up, it has always fascinated me. The way it has changed many aspects of our lives continuously sparks my interest and it challenges me as it evolves at a rapid pace. Without a doubt, it is something I am passionate about and something I want to improve upon in 2015. Yes, there is room for improvement and change even in social media.
My top five social media resolutions are:
- Build My Professional Network: Going from a college student to a college graduate to a working adult has introduced me to a lot of different people. Now is the time to start building those relationships and LinkedIn is a great tool for that. Networking is literally at our fingertips and I do not take full advantage of it as I should. Whether I’m connecting with people online or meeting them in person, I want to strengthen those relationships, because you never know how an individual may impact or benefit you. In our society today, networking is essential.
- Brand Myself: My motivation to brand myself has never been strong, until recently. Finally finding my niche, I feel well versed in what I do, who I am and who I will continue to become. It is time to brand myself, or in other words put myself out there more so people know the person behind the name and face. Branding yourself is not only about defining who you are as an individual, but to show people what you have to offer them from your knowledge and experience. It is about building trust and recognition. In 2015, I want to make sure I am able to do all of that to stand out amongst the million of other people on social who are doing the exact same thing.
- Unplug (Sort Of): As much as I love social media, it really does consume most of my day. Even after a full day of work writing content for each platform, looking into the analytics, and engaging, I find myself coming home and getting lost in my personal social networks. While the two differ, it is rare to not find my iPhone or iPad in my hands as I mindlessly scan through my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. My goal for this next year is to cut back. I cannot say that I can completely unplug, but it is a step and one that I want to take. My life does not need to revolve around it 24/7 as I may seem to think sometimes. I think we all could unplug a bit to just enjoy what is going on around us.
- Taking My Phone To Bed: This is my worst social media offense, like many others. Right before bed I always find myself on my phone getting my final nightly fix of social media. What I think will be five minutes always turns into a half hour or more of unnecessary scrolling, and if that is not bad, I do the same when I wake up. In my defense, I do use my phone as my alarm, so naturally my phone has to go next to my bed, but it is just an excuse. What I am doing is disrupting my sleep because I am enabling myself by having access to social media so close. Do I really need to see what people are posting and tweeting about at 10:30 at night? No.
- Research, Research, Research!: Not that I do not do enough of this already, but it is important to me to have a good grasp on what I am doing, how it can be better, and being aware of all the changes that consistently happen. While the social media world is growing and becoming more overwhelming, I want to focus my attention on the specifics like becoming a LinkedIn guru and learning how to capitalize on each platform from a business stand point. I want to learn what else is out there that could be the next best thing since Facebook. Staying educated and up to date when it comes to social media is not only smart, but it can be fun too.
While I list off all my resolutions, it is easy to forget them and get caught up in a routine. It is not uncommon for many people to create resolutions and let them fall through the cracks. It is my job, and yours, to uphold the goals you set for yourself in 2015 personally and professionally. #TurnTheLightBulbOn
By Megan Tschopp | Twitter: @MeganJanina
About Megan Tschopp
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