The one thing all social media platforms have in common is that each one lets you manage a profile page that summarizes who you are. This may appear to be a trivial aspect of social networking, in fact you may even consider it time-consuming and annoying to have to complete and maintain your profile. But your profile is one of the first things people check out about you and they will judge you simply by what it looks like and what it says.
Here is a checklist of details you need to check on to keep your social media profiles in tip-top condition so that they give that all-important first impression about you.
What's In a Name?
Your name is among the first things people will see when your profile pops up. You may think it cool and fun to conjure a name such as "Ultimate Hottie" or "Mr. Big Time" or some other similarly descriptive moniker, but these nicknames tend to get old and cumbersome after some time and could be more of a liability for you. Why not use your real name, or some variation of it, instead. Or if that isn't possible, at least pick a neutral name that is easy for people to find and remember.
Let's Face It
All social media platforms provide you the opportunity to establish your identity by posting your profile picture. I have seen many people use all sorts of graphic images for their profile images and even those who use no images at all. But what you really want to post up there is a clear and flattering photograph of your face. Not only do people get to see if you are the "Jim Smith" they want to connect with, but seeing your face helps them decide quickly whether to trust you or not.
What's It All About?
Most social media sites provide some space for you to type in a brief summary of your entire person. Think of this as the place where you put your one-sentence "elevator" pitch. Make it succinct and direct to the point - a single sentence that tells the reader who you are, what you do and why it matters to them.
Tell Your Story
Besides the brief "About" section described above, most social networks also let you compose a lengthier and more detailed description of yourself. Treat this as the supporting documentation for what you wrote in the "About" section.
The URL Is the Message
Most of the first-tier social media sites provide you with the opportunity to specify your profile's URL. This is a huge advantage that not everyone has taken. Imagine how easy it would be for people to find you by simply typing in your profile URL directly into your browser's navigation box. They will be able to do this because it ought to be easy to remember your profile's URL. For example, it would be virtually impossible to remember something like "http://facebook.com/0314599159" compared to something like "http://facebook.com/username".
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