Networking for Social Media Managers

You know you should network. But you probably don’t know what to say or how to get on people’s radar. Here’s an easy 7-step LinkedIn networking strategy (that anyone can use): 1. The 3 Principles Of Good Networking If you want to network effectively, you need to:  - Have a way to reach people  - Have a way to add value to them  - Have a way to keep the engagement going This strategy does all three! 2. Make A List Of Job-Related Keywords Think of keywords, skills, phrases, and jargon that align with your target role. Ex: If you’re in sales, that might be “sales,” “leads,” “pipeline,” “sales cycle,” etc. Make a quick list of these. 3. Run A “Post” Search On LinkedIn Start with one keyword (or the job title itself). Run a search for it on LinkedIn. From the “Filters” option, select “Posts.” Then change “Date Posted” to “Past Week.” 4. Filter By “Author Company” Click on “All Filters” to find the “Author Company” filter. Add all of your target companies to this filter. This will give you a list of all the posts related to your target role, written by people at your target companies, posted in the past week! 5. Analyze Posts & Authors Scroll through the posts. When you find one that resonates? Click the person’s profile and check to see if they post consistently (at least once / week). If they do? Bookmark their profile in your browser. 6. Leave A Value Driven Comment For each author you find that posts regularly in your target space? Leave a comment on their post recent post that is:  - Supportive  - Postive in tone  - Offers your own take / value  - Is more than one sentence Repeat for each author. 7. Rinse & Repeat Daily Every day, click through the author profiles you have bookmarked. See a new post? Leave a new comment. Repeat this process every weekday if you can. But aim to leave at least one comment / week at minimum. 8. Why This Works Content creators love engagement. By cosistently offering that in a positive way, you’re going to get on their radar. And when you’ve done this for a week or two, the likelihood of getting a “yes” to a coffee chat, or even a referral, goes WAY up. Give it a shot today!

Building a relationship > Blindly networking Quality is always better than quantity while networking. And how do you focus on quality? ✨ - Carefully pick the people you reach out to. - When they add you to your network, follow up with them. - Introduce yourself. Share how they can add value to your career. - Be very specific on what topic you need help on. - When you ask, think of the things you can give to them. - If you’re scheduling a call, set a clear agenda for the call. - After the call, make sure you send a thank you message. - Follow up every 3-6 months with updates. And, do you know how you can stand out? Give before you ask! 💡 When I was meeting a Senior PM who also happened to be content creator, I offered to design her LinkedIn banner. She did not expect this and I bet she still remembers me. 💡 One of the Group PMs I was meeting was starting out with content on Youtube so when we met we talked about product management but when he asked about content creation - I shared my content creation experience with him. Most of the times we think we won’t be able to add value to someone senior to us. But all of us have unique capabilities that can add value to others. So focus on adding 10 people to you network who will vouch for you uncountable times instead of 100 people who will not add any value. Hope this helps! In the next post, let’s talk about things to do on a networking call. #career #students #networking #linkedin

Yes companies are hiring, but... Competition is high. So I asked some clients who landed jobs what worked. Here are 7 ways you can stand out from the crowd (from what they shared): 1/ Make an Entrance with Video - Record a Loom video to introduce yourself and your skills; share it with hiring managers, recruiters, people you're trying to network with. - Double down by sending a personalized video as a heartfelt ‘thank you’ post-interview. 2/ Share Your Voice - Utilize LinkedIn's audio messages to add a human touch to networking (Mobile-only, connections only). - Being underutilized, this can lead to surprisingly high response rates! 3/ Map Out Your Success - Draft a 30-60-90 day plan outlining your goals and strategies for the role. - Share during interviews to exhibit proactive thinking and engage in constructive dialogue. 4/ Be a Problem-Solver Extraordinaire - Identify an issue the company is tackling and craft an insightful proposal or visual presentation. - Example: Company expanding into new markets? Share strategies for capturing market share. 5/ Pen Your Way to Success - Compose an article or blog post showcasing your expertise and share it on LinkedIn or Medium. - Not an expert? No problem. Share well-researched insights on trending topics and add your own take. 6/ Become the Host with the Most - Organize webinars or podcasts discussing industry trends or challenges. - Network by inviting industry guests - it’s a win-win for building relationships. 7/ Brand Yourself Like a Pro - Share valuable content regularly and establish your presence on LinkedIn. - Dedicate 30 minutes to an hour daily to engage with your network and connect with industry professionals. -- p.s. - like and repost if you think this could help someone in your network ♻ #jobsearch #jobinterviews #networking

You don’t need to attend awkward networking events to build connections. Here are 10 ways to network online (from your couch) to land your dream job, mentorship or just to stay in touch: 1. Start with warm calls, not cold DMs Reaching out to strangers is intimidating. So, begin with people you already admire or respect: past colleagues, old classmates, mentors, or anyone you’ve gotten value from. Reach out, share your goals, ask for advice, or simply reconnect. — 2. Build (or join) a 3-6 person mastermind Invite people you admire to check in monthly or quarterly. Ask 3 simple questions in each meeting: • What’s your biggest win? • What’s your biggest challenge? • How can we help each other? This becomes your personal board of advisors, and their networks become yours, too. — 3. Make intros within your own network Instead of always trying to add new people, try connecting two people you already know. It builds goodwill, and often sparks reciprocity. Some of my best opportunities came from introductions I made first. — 4. Be the tortoise, not the hare Strong networks aren’t built in a week. They come from consistency, trust, and staying top of mind. Check in. Celebrate small wins. Be helpful, even without asking for anything.  — 5. Send snail mail Want to stand out in a sea of LinkedIn messages? Send a handwritten card or even a fun comic with a note. The person will always remember your “extra” effort. — 6. Elevate the interaction • Only chatted with someone online? Try a call. • Had a few calls? Try a Zoom meeting. • Know them over Zoom? Meet up in person. Each upgrade strengthens the connection. — 7. Pick one platform to dominate Instead of being everywhere, go deep somewhere. For example, if it’s LinkedIn: • Endorse people • Write thoughtful comments • Share niche insights your network actually values   This depth pays off more than shallow visibility. — 8. Curate, don’t just connect Curate the best insights, tools, or articles in your niche, and share them regularly. You’ll become a trusted source people keep coming back or referring to. — 9. Do something fun together Shared activities build bonds. This could be as simple as playing a game, joining a sweepstakes, or co-hosting a webinar.  People remember who made them feel something. — 10. Swipe right (yes, really) Apps like Shapr or Invitly are designed for warm outreach — you match with people who want to meet others. It’s cold networking without the awkwardness. Networking isn’t about pitching. It’s about planting seeds. Start with one person. Reach out. Reconnect.  Then keep showing up, helping others, and making connections that count.

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

Build connections when you don’t need them, so they’re there when you do. Networking is a long‑term investment. You never know what can happen tomorrow, whether it’s a new opportunity, an unexpected challenge, or a career pivot. By cultivating relationships early, you turn strangers into allies and potential into possibility. My pro‑tip? Develop your personal value proposition. 
- List your top 3–5 strengths and concrete examples of how you’ve helped others 
- Turn each into an “I help…” statement (for example, “I help marketing teams drive engagement through data‑driven storytelling”) 
- Use these statements to guide every outreach, ensuring you’re always offering value, not just asking for favors Then start from what you know. 1. Choose 5–10 people from your alumni network, former classmates, or close colleagues 2. Send a genuine note, share an article they might find helpful, congratulate them on a recent win, or simply ask how you can support them 3. No agenda. Just curiosity and a willingness to help Next, venture into the unknown. 1. Identify people at companies you admire or in roles you aspire to 2. Do your homework: reference a recent project, article, or speaking engagement 3. Reach out with a clear, value‑first message: “I enjoyed your piece on X; as someone looking to Y, I’d love to learn how you approached Z.” And keep the momentum going. 
- Schedule quarterly reminders to check in, share insights, celebrate milestones, or ask a thoughtful question 
- Track key dates (promotions, product launches, anniversaries) so your messages feel timely Your network matters. When you need advice, an introduction, or anything really, you’ll already have authentic connections. And at the end of the day, already built connections where you can leverage the relationships > dry unknowns ‘Hey, I need help’ messages. #StephSynergy

I was asked by Moe K. Suliman to detail and post my social media strategy/execution for LinkedIn. I hope this helps others think about their posting, even if you disagree or have a different perspective. If so, I would love to hear it. For posting on LinkedIn, I think there are some simple things to do and not to do. Do: - Post often in your area of expertise. I have found that LinkedIn has built a profile on the areas of my expertise and rewards posts in these areas. Also, try posting in your groups to see how well your content is received. So, my holiday greetings' posts were not optimized because they fell outside my "normal". Oddly, this post falls into the same category. Irony. - Post at different days and times to find a sweet spot for your audience. I have found that Mondays get far more exposure and eyeballs than Fridays. - Post at the same time/s most days. You are building expectations for your audience. I post at 9 am eastern most days. - Post media to break up just words. One secret I use is to go to Tenor and download relevant gifs. It took me an hour and I now have a large library. - Schedule posts so that you can then only manage notifications and not be tied to LinkedIn all day. I usually schedule posts for a week or two in advance. This takes me less than an hour. To help with creativity, I keep notes for future posts and podcasts ideas. - Turn on notifications for certain people in your network so that you get a notification when they post. - Comment on other people's posts to engage, encourage, and grow your thought process. Posts get far more exposure with comments than likes so it helps the poster. - Cultivate relationships through messaging. Like in real life, it takes being a friend to have a friend. So, do not waste people's time or pitch to them. These messages should be thought of similar to text messages in real life. Do not: - Never post and complain that you do not have a larger community. - Do not post when your audience is offline. - Do not spam people's message boxes for jobs (if they do not know you or your work) or just to say "hi". - Do not post links unless it is with purpose. The LinkedIn algorhythm limits the reach of posts with links. - Do not stay just within your industry, geography, or organizational level. You will grow by growing your connections from different perspectives than your own. - Do not see LinkedIn as transactional, give to get. View LinkedIn as relational, a place that you can grow and build relationships. So, what did I miss? Please comment below. Here's to a great 2025! Thank you for being a part of my LinkedIn community. Please let me know if there is anything either I or Service Management Leadership can do for you and your organization.

If you're hoping to network with someone you don't know, start by helping them. Here's a list of actions you can take to provide value to a new contact: -Listen to a podcast they were interviewed on and reference the episode. -Read their article or other written resource and mention your takeaways. -Watch videos of their interviews or speaking engagements. -Subscribe to their newsletter, podcast, or social profiles. -Add thoughtful comments on their LinkedIn posts or elsewhere on social. -Share their social media content and include your commentary. -Leave a genuine review or rating on their course, podcast, services page, etc. -Attend their company's next in-person or online event, especially if it's free. -Interview them to provide additional exposure to their ideas and accomplishments that could benefit other readers, viewers, or listeners. -Curate resources and opportunities for them based on their actual interests. The goal is to demonstrate a genuine interest in them by going beyond asking for something or using the same generic pleasantries everyone else does.

I tested 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (During my last job search and as a career coach). These 𝟱 get the highest response rates, especially from hiring managers👇 1. The Profile Viewer Message Check who viewed your LinkedIn profile. They’re already aware of you, don’t let that warm lead go cold. Try this: "Hey [Name], I noticed you stopped by my profile, appreciate you taking a look! Curious, was there something specific that caught your eye, or are you open to conversations around [industry/topic you're exploring]?" 👉 Tip: Warm > Cold. Always start with people who’ve already shown interest. 2. Acknowledge + Ask Find something unique about their background or a recent post, and ask a question. "Hi [Name], I saw your talk on [topic], your insight on [specific point] stuck with me. How did you land your current role at [Company]?" People love talking about themselves, especially when you show genuine interest. 3. Value First Offer a useful insight, article, or trend that aligns with their work. No ask, just value. "Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. Just came across this article, it touches on a similar trend. Thought you might find it interesting." Position yourself as thoughtful, not transactional. 4. Mutual Connection Approach Bridge a real mutual connection or shared experience. "Hi [Name], I noticed we both worked with [Person] / went to [School] / worked in [Company or Industry]. I'd love to learn more about your path, especially how you made the transition to [Role/Company]." Relatability opens doors faster than credentials. 5. Compliment + Curiosity Start with a specific compliment, then open the door. "Hi [Name], really enjoyed your article on [topic], especially your point about [detail]. Are you open to connecting with people exploring similar roles in [industry]?" It’s respectful, direct, and makes it easy for them to respond. Reminder: You don’t need to spam 100 strangers. Start with 10 meaningful messages a week. Track responses. Iterate on what works. Focus on warm leads, shared interests, and genuine curiosity. What template would you like to see next? If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want. ➕Follow Jaret André for more daily data job search tips.

If you're tirelessly sending out job applications and wondering why you're not getting interview calls, it's time to rethink your strategy. Here's a reality check: I applied for a role that was posted just yesterday, and the hiring manager revealed they had already received over 500 applications. Sounds daunting, right? But here's a twist: I didn't wait to be discovered in that massive pile. Instead, I took a proactive step that made all the difference. The game-changer? Connecting directly with the hiring manager and the most senior person in talent acquisition. Here's how you can do it too: Research and Connect: Use platforms like LinkedIn to find the hiring manager and senior talent acquisition personnel for the roles you're interested in. Don't just send a connection request; personalize it: Share briefly why you're reaching out and express genuine interest in the company and the role. Follow Up with Value: Once connected, send a follow-up message that makes it easy for them to see your potential fit. Example: "I have 15+ years of corporate social media experience for global brands and am ready to immediately help drive meaningful growth." Make Their Job Easy: In your communications, be clear, concise, and compelling. Help them see why you're worth a closer look. If this proactive approach helps even one job seeker break through the digital black hole of applications and land an interview, then it's a win. Remember, job hunting is not just about waiting to be found; it's about making yourself impossible to overlook. #OpenToWork #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #HiringNow