Sometimes your job can get a bad rap. When surveyors make a mistake or a small percentage are unethical in their practice, it reflects poorly on the industry as a whole. Luckily, the age of social media has the ability to turn the stereotype around. Surveyors can now take their individual reputations into their own hands by using social media to convey transparency in their practice and to show people what they really do on a day-to-day basis.
Here are some ways to start leveraging social media to showcase your individual skills and your profession today:
1) Stay Active on LinkedIn
Almost every professional industry actively engages with their network through LinkedIn. Whether you’re trying to drum up new business or want to build your reputation in the community, participating on this social media site is a great way to start. Your primary page should consist of all the pertinent information about your job. List your industry specialties, surveying services you offer, and one or two examples of your work.
After you have started using the site for its basic networking purpose, try to engage with more people. Start a LinkedIn group about a pressing surveying issue. Your name will appear as the leader and the owner of the group. Participate regularly in the conversations. You can also add to others’ discussion boards and publish articles. Add to the discussion wherever it feels natural and you have expertise.
2) Get Involved on Facebook
It seems like everyone uses Facebook. While not a professional site, per se, you can still have a meaningful impact by connecting with friends, family members, and extended networks of those you interact with on LinkedIn. Give your network the inside scoop on your daily activities on Facebook, and showcase others you work with in the field. Small, regular updates about your day will give people a reason and a way to connect with you in the future. While it seems social, posting to Facebook can also be a wildly successful marketing strategy.
3) A Picture Says…
You know the old saying. Say a thousand words with uploaded pictures from your latest site or post a photo of how surveyors have fun when they’re out in the field. Don’t limit your picture sharing to just your work. Show where you eat for lunch and client interactions. Happy, interpersonal relationships are powerful motivators that your network will see and remember. The few seconds that it takes for people to see a picture that speaks to them could make you stand out in their minds the next time they need to hire a surveyor or hear about work.
4) Embrace Important Dates
Use your social media site postings to raise awareness about National Surveyors Week. Dedicate a post a day to something different about your industry. Even if you’re only sharing information from an article or online forum, your network will see your name associated with the article. Share statistics about the profession and provide general information about the dates and activities in your area. You may be surprised at the response you receive.
There are endless ways to interact on social media to let people see what you do as a surveyor. People are interested in learning more about professions and what others do in their daily work. Whether you prefer to post pictures, original articles, or small snippets about your day, every post can build your reputation among your network and market your services.
* Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.com and KROMKRATHOG
