Once you’ve chosen your initial platform, what’s your goal of being on social media? Do you want to get hired? (That mostly happens via LinkedIn, just so you know.) Are you looking to connect with others in your field? Do you want to establish a reputation as a go-to person for something? Think about your goal so you have a clear reason for posting on your pages and things feel focused and purposeful. You don’t need to be making a set number of posts per day or per week—the numbers people advise about are really pretty arbitrary. I post something most days, but I’m self-employed, and it’s a racial justice-charged pandemic. You can start with just observing others. Whose posts generate interest? What kinds of articles or images are people sharing? What resonates with you? This is a great way to read the tone of people you admire or whose ranks you want to join. You can join groups on some platforms, as well. Try doing a search for the kinds of things you’re interested in: “dental hygiene professionals, San Diego,” for example. When you find Facebook groups to join, the standard etiquette is to introduce yourself, often in a single sticky thread at the top of the page. If you’re on Reddit, spend a little time seeing what gets up-voted and what gets down-voted. You can be a lurker for a while and gain valuable info in the process!
