Unless you’ve been living under a rock for last couple of years, you’ll be aware of the next generation of Internet applications. Social media is THE biggest thing on the Internet. Facebook is now used more than Google, Twitter has become the one of the fastest ways to disseminate news and YouTube is now considered to be a legitimate video distribution channel. But how can journalists use social media? Is it just a way for journalists to show off some of their work? Or is it a self-promotional tool?
Here are five ways to use social media
1. Engage with your audience.
Try to get your publishers to include your Twitter ID in your byline. For online publications, this is usually pretty easy to do. When readers can engage with you, you gain a new level of connection with them. With online publications, this usually isn’t too hard to negotiate
One piece of advice – if readers start following your Twitter feed you’ll need to think before you tweet. One thing you can do is have two Twitter accounts – a personal one and a work one. Also, don’t follow readers automatically as they can then direct message you. This might be somewhat intrusive.
2. Promote your work
If you do publish online, sending links over Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social sites can be a great way to increase traffic to your work. A good strategy is to not only send links to new work but also to older stories that haven’t dated. That will expose your work new readers and help build your audience.
3. Build up a living CV
Creating a blog, even a simple one, can be an easy way to make a living curriculum vitae of your work accessible to potential clients. While that might sound technically difficult for some, many web hosting companies make it very easy to register a domain name and build a web site.
A great example of a blog like this, that shares both work and some personal information is my friend Alex Kidman’s site.
4. Show off using YouTube
If you do the occasional TV spot, getting the clip on to YouTube gives you visibility and exposes you to an even greater audience.
Just make sure you aren’t breaking any copyright rules if you do this.
5. Find sources and information
Last, but certainly not least on this list, is using social media as an information gathering tool. Asking a question on Twitter, as an example, can be a great way to find interview subjects. Also, there’s the newest kid on the social media block, Quora, that lets you not only follow people, but also topics of interest. It’s sort of a cross between Twitter and LinkedIn groups.
How do you use social media? Do you find it valuable or a time waster? Share your thoughts in the comments.
When you’re building your freelance practice, it’s important to find opportunities to get people to know you. You could turn to advertising in freelance directories or the like but a great way is to engage your local community.