Social networking is all the
buzz in recruiter circles; but many recruiters get frustrated after the
"benefits" of social networking fail to materialize after posting
their LinkedIn profile or sending a few tweets. What's important to understand about social networking is
that it requires that recruiters Engage, Network and Share valuable information
and all of that takes time, energy and most importantly a good strategy. Let's take a closer look:
Engaging others on social
networks such as LinkIn, Facebook or Twitter, requires research into the
demographic you are targeting.
Also, recruiters must create and implement a steady, consistent,
long-term strategy to make their audience aware of their presence on various
social networking sites. But to grasp a significant share of the social
networking community, recruiters must engage in a little networking themselves.
Networking with others who
have access to and the trust of your demographic is one of the easiest and most
effective ways to build your social networking community. This could be as
simple as posting valuable information on other recruiter's blogs or writing an
article for newsletters that target your demographic while inviting them to
join your social networking community. While gaining an audience may take some effort
and time, keeping them is will take an ongoing effort of offering information
that will benefit your community.
Sharing valuable information
such as, articles, job postings and industry specific news with your social
networking community will help you lay the groundwork to build a loyal
following that will eventually pay major dividends in the future.