Shocking Social Media Job Search Facts [Infographic]

social media for job search info

Job search in the 21st century has introduced a completely new approach to both recruiting and self-marketing. Now that people are more and more dependent on social media, it allows both job seekers and employers to use social networking as a powerful and more effective job search tool.

In fact, social media contributes to personal branding, opens up opportunities for better networking, brings you closer to target employers and in general increases your visibility online. There are quite a few other social media facts most of the job seekers are unaware of.

Nowadays, only 4% of recruiters ignore using social media for hiring. Other 96% might even stalk their potential candidates for a certain period to learn more about them through their online presence.

Furthermore, 51% out of this 96% of recruiters prefer googling applicants as a part of their selection process. Sounds compelling? Then, let’s learn a little more about the top rated social media job search sites to help you boost your social media job search.

job search and social media infographic

About the Author: Victoria Vein is a writer at Resume Writing Lab for IT specialists.

Which Social Media Platform is Right for Your Small Business?

It seems like virtually every business is on social media and they are right to do so. Millions of people access social media everyday through computers, phones, and tablets. Which is exactly why businesses are taking advantage of these free communication tools.  There are lots of social media platforms to choose from but what some business owners don’t realize is that they don’t have to be on all of them. Here’s some info to help you find which platform is right for you.

Facebook is by far the platform with the most users. Business owners use it to either increase their web presence or for direct advertising. People can link to their product pages or buy ad space directly from Facebook. However businesses tend to favor increasing their audience than making ads. Active users who frequently like and share content end up being more profitable in the end. Marketing was usually managed by third party marketing firms but people are starting to hire social media managers internally. Internal management tends to result in a more personable image since the person writing posts lives in the area and knows the demographic better.

For business owners Twitter and Facebook generally achieve similar goals: increasing presence and advertising. Sharing content and posting original Tweets is the best way to gain a following, but remember to get creative with your Tweets because you are limited to 140 characters. Twitter is a great tool to direct contact, you can Tweet directly at a business or person and usually get a response. You can even Tweet at your favorite celebrity and get a response. These two platforms are also used as a form of public relations since they are a direct connection to customers. Businesses can refute negative feedback with public or personal responses.

Many businesses are utilizing Google Plus because of its growing user base and access to other tools, making it a quick and effective for communication. The platform is accessed through Gmail which creates many different ways to share ideas between different people. A favorite from Google Plus is the hangout platforms that allow people to instantly message each other. Plus it includes a calendar that is used to schedule events and reminders, which can be used to create projects that are then assigned to specific people. On the employer side the main benefit is streamlining company communication.

Another social media platform that most businesses are using, or at the very least their Human Resources department is using, is LinkedIn. The platform connects businesses with people working in that field. Employees and employers can establish a connection and communicate with each other about potential job opportunities. LinkedIn is used alongside a strong email marketing campaign to recruit new hires when needed. It is a simple and effective tool to vet new hires because LinkedIn profiles are basically online resumes. LinkedIn is not as popular as Facebook so you won’t be able to find nearly as many people but it is increasing in popularity and this particular social media platform looks like it is here to stay.

5 Reasons to Use Social Media for Business Marketing

I know that using social media to market your brand can feel weary. Although confusing and overwhelming at times, social media can be a very powerful tool for your business. If you are on the fence about bringing your business to social media, these 5 benefits might just convince you to join.

Cost

In the past, marketing was a huge part of a business’s budget. Marketing is still a huge part of business, but the form has shifted. Social media is a great way to market your business, and it’s free! It levels the playing field between businesses and opens everyone up to a large audience. Social media allows you to invest more time than money into your marketing campaign.

Customer Relationship

Social media allows you to create relationships with customers by directly interacting with them. Customers will be encouraged to respond to posts, and keeping the conversation about your business going through different social media feeds will keep them aware of it. Not only do your customers most likely use social media actively every day, they also take it with them everywhere via smartphone. In addition to this, customers can share information from your page onto their page. This is the new form of recommendations, customers share what businesses they like with their friends on social media, which encourages their friends to give your business a try as well.

Keep Up on Competitors

Using social media for your business will allow you browse through other competitors pages. You can keep up on new trends your competitors may be implementing in their business. You can also see what customers are saying to them, products, and other information that might not be readily available to you by visiting their store or website. Especially locally, this kind of information allows you to be even more competitive with pricing and quality because you can directly address the concerns your competitor’s customers have.

Email Marketing

You no longer need to wait for customers to sign up for an email list in order for you to share newsletters, discounts, or other information with them. You can now share this information with your whole audience, as well as new customers who might be browsing the page for information. Email doesn’t have to go out the window all the way you can use social media and attract customers with a “Join Mailing List” button making it even easier for them to join and stay in the know.

Build your Brand

Social media allows you to really grow and confirm your brand. Businesses now have voices, giving you the ability to accurately build the image you want for your company. Respond to local events, news, and reviews in a tactful, timely manner. Your image and brand can really show itself on social media, and give customers an idea of the experience they will have using your business. Social media can help give you that boost to make your brand memorable to customers.

If you want a cheap, fast, accessible way to reach your business’s audience and customer base turn to social media. Just remember to keep your pages positive and respond to customers tactfully, since these profiles become the face of your business. Good luck and have fun!

Using Social Media for your Business

Facebook has over 1 billion users and Twitter has over 300 million. With so many users it’s impossible to ignore social media and any business should strive to utilize social media as effectively as possible. Here are some ideas to keep in mind.

 Set goals.

Start with the purpose of the company and develop social media goals from there. Do you want to engage customers more? Do you want to expand online sales?  Do you want to develop or correct the image of your company? Having goals gives your social media activity a sense of direction.

Research

First find what works for businesses and what doesn’t. You don’t have to be on every platform, some companies don’t belong on Tumblr or Pinterest just refer to your goals and do some research about each one. Keep up on what each platform is doing like the addition of reactions on Facebook or Microsoft acquiring LinkedIn. Research also involves doing so keep track of which posts generate traffic or user interaction.

Be patient.

Some businesses have unrealistic expectations about their social media strategies, gaining followers does not happen overnight and it takes plenty of time. It’s important to be patient when you want to increase traffic or web presence. Creating content also takes time, there should be a purpose behind what you are posting so take your time and think about what kind of message you are projecting.

Be active.                                                             

Successful social media strategies are constantly active. Whether you are retweeting, uploading pictures, or updating your profile stick to your goals and create schedule. Social media trends are constantly changing and some only last a few days, not everything you post has to be evergreen. Take some time each day to work on your account and remember to update across all platforms not just your most popular one.

Stand by your statements.

Social media is used to communicate your views. If your business takes a stand on a divisive issue stand by what you say, that doesn’t mean replying to every single negative comment but you shouldn’t back track either. It’s also okay if you decide to stay away from this type of attention. Standing by your statements also means owning up to mistakes, accidents happen and owning up to a bad repost or tweet is better than pretending like it didn’t happen. Apologize and move on.

Be creative.

With so many accounts for business it’s easy to get lost among them, being creative with your posts makes you stand out. You can be funny, being professional doesn’t mean devoid of humor. Even newspapers make puns and publish a funny story now and then. No one can tell you how to be creative so just have fun and see what works.

How to get more Facebook shares

how to get more facebook shares

1. Be Consistent

Post 5 times a week so you’re “top of mind” for your Fans.

2. Time it right

The best time to post will depend on the type of business you’re in.

3. Use eye-catching images

Alternate photos and video with text-only updates.

How do you find awesome, eye-catching images?

Easy. Use Post Planner’s Viral Photos feature.

4. Keep it short

Posts between 100 and 150 characters (fewer than 3 lines of text) see 60% more Likes, comments and shares than longer posts.

5. Be relevant

Your content should let your audience know that you know who they are.

6. Use your authentic voice

People are your Fans and friends because they like what you do. Your voice on Facebook should be true to your brand.

7. Include a call to action

If you ask your Fans to Share, Like or Comment, they are more likely to do it.

8. Be creative with apps

Contest and promotion apps, along with forms, surveys, etc. can deepen users’ involvement with a business or brand.

9. Have a sense of urgency

Include up-to-minute tips and tricks, and whenever possible, dispel myths.

10. Offer value

Before you share something on Facebook ask yourself if you think your Fans will find value in the content.

11. Be entertaining

If your followers like funny memes or respond well to video, take note. Use the type of media that works best for your audience.

12. Be educational

People love to share how-to guides and tips.

13. Make a list

Lists, in the form of an infographic or a pdf (or a blog post) are great for sharing.

14. Be seasonable

Tailor your content to the season or an upcoming holiday.

source: marismith

How to Meet People in a New Country as an Expat

Life as an expat in a new country can be hard and sometimes lonely, and making friends can seem like an incredibly daunting task which could lead you to stay at home avoiding the situation all together instead of putting yourself out there and giving it a chance.

So, if that sounds like you and you would like some advice on how to make some new friends in your new country of residence, here are four simple and easy ways to get your friendship journey started:

about-bloggers-africa

Meetups and Social Media

Expat communities exist across the globe, and with a little help from Google, specific groups on Facebook, or meetup.com, you will be sure to find one in your area that will suit you. Meetup.com is a website consisting of established groups for all interests situated all over the world – including language groups in Spain, hiking clubs in Cape Town, surf clubs that meet at the local beach resort in Morocco, and soccer groups in Dubai – that you can get involved in and meet people who have the same interests as you. You can do the same thing through Facebook by searching for groups that interest you. You can use the groups to ask questions about the relative topics and find out information, for example where the meeting up for book club and if you could join them for the next one. But, be sure to meet people in a public area where there are other people around, for extra safety measures.

House Share

House sharing won’t suite everyone, especially those with a family needing their own space. But as a single person or a couple, house sharing is a good way to start meeting people and forming friendships that will end up being the closest thing you will have to family while starting out your life in your new home town. Choosing to live with house mates will enable you to lead semi-separate lives, but equally gain good friends who you are close to, can rely on, and can go out for drinks or dinner with after work or on the weekend.

Say Yes, Always

If you have met someone at a language group, or at the bookshop you visited, and they ask you to go for a drink with them and their friends at a bar, or even surfing at one of the hottest beaches in the country – say yes. By becoming a ‘yes person’, will enable you to be more involved in activities you might never have thought you would ever do (which is an adventure in itself and you may end up loving something you never would have tried otherwise), and will help you to meet fun, interesting and genuine people along the way.

Word of Mouth

By ‘word of mouth’ we mean talk to everyone you know, no matter where they are located in the world. You will be surprised at how often one of your friends knows someone who lives in your new city, giving you an unexpected connection you might never have made otherwise. Ask your friends on Facebook if they know anyone living near you, and even if it ends up being a friend of a friend, you never know what it could amount to. Meeting someone like this may feel similar to attending a blind date, but you never know who you could meet – you might end up being best of friends.