How Twitter  Gives You a Voice and Enhances Your Personal Brand   

“I don’t have anything to say.” That’s the excuse that is the most upsetting whenever women tell me why they aren’t on Twitter. A woman with nothing to say! I can’t even comprehend it. If you’re not doing something you’re proud of, then it’s time to make a change. However, chances are, you just don’t know how and where to tell your story.

It’s challenging to land a new job or get the promotion you’ve been wanting if people don’t know what you’re doing or how well you’re doing it. It would be great if everyone knew how deserving we are of that next career move just based on the work we put in, but unless we tell people, they will never truly know how great we are. That’s right, we are amazing, and it’s okay to tell people that every day. It may sound ridiculous to suggest that you brag about yourself every day, but that’s exactly what I’m saying.

Years ago, the best ways to tell my story was reporting out in a staff meeting, presenting at industry conferences and competing for national awards. Now with numerous social media platforms, it’s easy to brand myself to the masses, especially via Twitter. I know, you think you don’t have enough content to constitute managing a Twitter account, but trust me when I tell you that you definitely do. Start by asking yourself one simple question: what do you want to be known for in your career?

We all do something that we are proud of everyday, big or small — so share it so people can see who you are, and in turn, will think of you when an opportunity arises to collaborate. If you still don’t think you have anything to say, below are ten tips that will help you see that you actually do.

• • • Pay Attention: Even the smallest detail of your day can make for a great Twitter post. Did you finish a project? See an inspirational quote? Hear an interesting story on the radio?
    • Be Strategic: Make your posts relevant to your personal brand.
    • Retweet: Make someone else’s content relevant to you, and join in the conversation. Track what others are posting about, and add a quick thought about something you saw someone else tweet about.
    • Be Visual: When posting, try to include a photo when you can.
    • Be a Reporter: When you attend a convention or event, share the insight others are sharing to provide unique content to your followers.
    • Network: Follow your co-workers, boss and others in your industry to use this as a platform to share ideas, as well as network. Social media provides a platform to talk with people you might not normally have access to, which is especially beneficial when you’re looking for a new job.
    • Research: As part of networking, when you are applying for a new job, check out the Twitter feed of the people hiring for that position. This provides you with insight into who they are and what they are looking for at their organization. It makes an awkward interview comfortable because you can chat about relevant topics instead of the generic ones.
    • Chat: Every industry has Twitter chats that allow people to discuss current topics, so join in to provide insight, as well as take away useful information. Contributing to Twitter chats is one of the best ways to build your brand.
    • Stay current: In addition to providing content for others, be sure to follow people and organizations that provide information on the subjects that will help you be grow in your position.

When people think of me, I want them to see a creative, strategic thinker who moves the needle for the projects I’m involved in, as well as advancing the careers of others in the sports industry. I do this, in part, by sharing my professional life on Twitter. Below are some examples from a recent two-week cycle on my Twitter feed that encompasses who I am.

Feature a new idea that was implemented: 

Thank coworkers for their contributions:

Mentor even during the busiest time of the year:

 Thank a mentor:

 Provide examples of other successful people:

 Provide advice from people and events your followers don’t have access to:

 Share articles that will inspire:

 Showing creativity:

 If I haven’t convinced you yet, the best reason to love Twitter is for accountability. If I look back at my Twitter feed for the week to see that I didn’t post anything, was that truly indicative of the week I had? I didn’t do one thing to advance my career? To build my brand? That I was proud of? Did I really have nothing to say? In order to be heard, I need more than just my voice in the office, I use social media platforms to have access to the masses. Then, I tell them why I’m awesome. So think: what do you want to be known for in your career?