Social media is a platform where people can share their thoughts, photos, and experiences with others. Most students are not aware of the importance of their social media image and how it can affect their future.
Social media can be used to procrastinate or scroll aimlessly through your feed for hours on end. But if used correctly, it can also be a powerful tool to help you succeed in school and life. Taking some time to properly manage social media and build a personal image can be worth it.
But if you are too busy studying, it is better to assign some extra work to buyessay and pay attention to your social media accounts. Read on to find out why this is so important and how to make your profiles more marketable.
Why Is a Marketable Social Media Image Important?
While social media can have many positive effects on students’ lives, it can also negatively affect their future. Here are some ways that social media image can affect students’ future:
Social media image can lead to employment discrimination
Employers often use social media to screen job candidates, and they may discriminate against those whose online presence reflects poorly on them. For example, if an employer sees that a job candidate has posted photos of themselves drinking alcohol or engaging in other risky behaviors, they may assume that the candidate is not responsible enough to be hired.
As such, students need to be mindful of what they post online, as it could come back to haunt them later on in their career search.
Social media image can hurt your future in college
Admissions committees often look at applicants’ social media profiles when making decisions about who to accept into their programs. If an admissions committee member sees something negative or incriminating on an applicant’s profile (e., racist comments, offensive jokes), it could reflect badly on the applicant and jeopardize their chances of being accepted into the school of their choice.
Therefore, students should make sure that their social media profiles present them in a positive light before applying to any colleges or universities.
Social media image can damage your professional reputation
Once you enter the workforce, your social media activity can still have an impact on your career. For example, if you publicly criticize your company or boss on social media, it could lead to negative consequences at work, such as getting fired or demoted.
Additionally, employers may be less likely to promote employees who are known for posting unprofessional or offensive content online. Therefore, it’s important to always think twice before hitting “post” on anything that could potentially damage your professional reputation.
While social media can have some negative effects, it’s important to remember that it can also be used in positive ways. For example, social media can help you with the following:
- connect with mentors and role models
- network with other professionals
- stay up-to-date with the latest industry news and trends
- create and share valuable content
- build a strong personal brand
Let’s take a closer look at the last point.
How to Make a Social Media Image Marketable?
Here are some tips to help make your social media image more marketable and build a strong personal brand.
1. Keep it upbeat
Social media should be a fun way to connect with friends and family, so make sure your posts reflect that! Keep them positive, upbeat, and interesting, and people will be more likely to want to follow you.
2. Be yourself
It’s important to be genuine on social media, as people can see through fakes pretty easily. Be true to who you are, share what you’re interested in, and don’t try to be someone you’re not – it’ll just make things difficult in the long run.
3. Use quality photos
This may seem like an obvious one, but it does make a difference! People are more likely to engage with posts that have high-quality images, so if you want your posts to get noticed (and get those likes!), invest in a good camera or phone with a decent camera function.
4. Post regularly
One of the best ways to keep people interested in following you is by posting regularly – but don’t overdo it! A couple of times a day is usually sufficient; any more than that, and people might start getting annoyed. Just find a happy medium that works for you.
5. Engage with others
Social media is all about interaction, so make sure you’re engaging with other users as well! Like and comment on their posts, join in on conversations and follow accounts that interest you. The more you interact, the more likely people are to remember you – and who doesn’t want more friends?
6. Be active on social media platforms relevant to your industry
Many employers use social media as a way to screen candidates, so it’s important to have an active presence on the platforms that are most relevant to your field. For example, if you’re looking for a job in marketing, make sure you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile with links to any content you’ve created.
7. Protect yourself from cybercrime
Unfortunately, there are many people out there who would love nothing more than to steal our identities or hack into our accounts. Be vigilant about not sharing too much personal information online, and always use strong passwords for all of your accounts.
The Bottom Line
There is no doubt that social media has become an integral part of our lives. We use it to stay connected with our friends and family, share important news and events, and sometimes even kill time when we’re bored.
But did you know that social media can also have a positive impact on your future? That’s right – if used correctly, they can help you achieve your goals and reach your full potential. So use social media mindfully and use these tricks to make your social media image marketable!
