TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA: What you need to know to be successful.

Technology. What would we do without it? It has altered our lives. Technology and Web 2.0 has affected us personally by changing the way we communicate, keep in touch, and socialize. Professionally, it has affected how businesses are run, employees find jobs and keep jobs, and it has altered the skills and training needed to be successful in the professional world. This is important to know if you are considering changing professions or you are currently job hunting.

There is no industry that technology has altered more that the Communications Industry. Remember the good ol' days of just needing to know how to write and speak well? Sadly, those days are no more (sad face). There is much more competition and many more skills are necessary in this industry. These blogs will not tell you everything you need to know to enter the communications field, but it will give you an idea of how the industry has evolved and how you must adjust in order to be successful.

One of the most important skills to master: Social Media Skills.

What is social media you say? According to Whatis.techtarget.com, "Social media is the collective of online communications channels dedicated to community-based input, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration." Some examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, You Tube, Instagram, Linkedin, Vine, Snap Chat, Pinterest, and Tumblr. If you are more of a visual person, this video also breaks down what social media is. 

Understanding social media and how to utilize it is crucial to todays communication professionals. Knowing how to use social media can set you apart from others you are competing with in order to secure positions in the communications field. 

Here is a breakdown of some of the things modern communication professional must be able to do on social media in order to be successful:

• Be able to download, sign-up, and create a professional profile
• Be able to engage properly with other media professionals and their intended audience
• Be able to network and build relationships
• Know which social media sites are best for your business and profession
• Be aware, I repeat Be Aware, of the content you are posting and always keep it professional
• Understand the lingo the site uses (hashtags, trending, etc.) and know which writing styles are best for which accounts.

Communication professionals should also be fearless and willing to experiment online with various social media platforms. According to blog.wcworld.com, "It's nearly impossible to tell what the next big thing will be, so we have an obligation to sample everything that comes down the pike."

So get out there, start using social media, and be fearless! If you do, you will have one more skill that may help you land that dream job. 

RESOURCES:

1800EnterprisesLLC. (2014, January 31). Social media 2014 [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pahLo5TTy4

Reid, B. (2014, May 4). The 10 skills that modern communicators have (or need to get) [Blog]. Retrieved from http://blog.wcgworld.com/2012/05/the-10-skills-modern-communicators-have-or-need-to-get

Rouse, M. (n.d.) Social media. Retrieved August 9, 2015 from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/social-media