{"id":2997,"date":"2011-09-12T07:20:58","date_gmt":"2011-09-12T11:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/?p=2997"},"modified":"2024-02-05T05:14:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T10:14:41","slug":"social-media-roi-is-it-worth-the-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/social-media-roi-is-it-worth-the-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Media ROI: Is It Worth the Time?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

So much has been written and said about whether social media brings enough return on time invested.<\/p>\n

The key to getting value is choosing a few platforms and leveraging them well. We can easily get consumed and overwhelmed by dabbling in too much social media\u00a0<\/a>, and making an impact with none.<\/p>\n

Running my business is similar to running an executive job search campaign. I tell my c-suite clients that, just as I do, they need to think of themselves as a company of one \u2013 Brand You \u2013 and determine what differentiates them from their competition, then promote that unique value they offer.<\/p>\n

Using social networks<\/a> and social media helps you (and me) uncover opportunities, build community and brand evangelism, make connections with potential employers’ hiring decision makers, and demonstrate your thought leadership and subject matter expertise.<\/p>\n

In my opinion (and that of just about any career professional), executive job seekers MUST get involved with LinkedIn, at a bare minimum, just to keep pace with their competitors in today\u2019s job market. But is that one channel enough? How many are too many? And how much time should you spend on each?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about creating a realistic strategic plan, and understanding that social media has a cumulative impact. It takes time for your efforts to gain traction. Don\u2019t expect too much to happen until after several months or more, depending upon how active you are and how quickly you build connections, followers, visitors, etc.<\/p>\n

Blogging, LinkedIn and Twitter are my social media of choice \u2013 the biggest pieces in my online brand communications plan<\/a>. Here\u2019s a taste of the ROI value of each for me:<\/p>\n

BLOGGING<\/strong><\/p>\n

No question, most of my business comes through my blogsites. They are the single best tool for marketing my brand and the services I offer.<\/p>\n

I write a total of 2-3 new posts\u00a0each week on my two active blogsites, Executive Career Brand<\/a> and Executive Resume Branding<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By concentrating on SEO (search engine optimization) \u2013 using enough relevant keywords in the right ways and places, frequency, and building back links from sites with good Google juice \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to maintain strong search results for the keyword phrases that prospective clients use to find careers industry professionals like me.<\/p>\n

LINKEDIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because my LinkedIn profile lands at the #2 or #3 spot in Google search results for my name, many click through to my LinkedIn profile and assess whether to do business with me based on what they read in my profile.<\/p>\n

And, many of my clients are LinkedIn members who find me through a LinkedIn search of relevant keywords.<\/p>\n

I keep LinkedIn working for me by:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n