Last week around the globe, professionals in various industries took up their smartphones and devices to connect in celebration of global Social Media Week (SMW). From live events to Instagram stories, there were many ways you could share and discover social media insights, ideas and opportunities. 

Here at exaqueo, we believe in open sharing of resources across fields and industries so we can all learn and grow in the profession. Social media, like employer brand, is still an emerging, ever-evolving field. To add to the SMW conversation, we shared five social media tips curated by our employer brand strategists.

TIP #1: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE.

Start with research -- who are you trying to talk to? Once you’ve identified your target audience, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about them before you starting posting. Find out what they are talking about, when they are online, where they hang out online, and how they use social media. Don’t assume it’s only millennials on social media! 

TIP #2: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ON EVERY CHANNEL. 

Contrary to common belief, you don't have to be on all social media channels. As an individual, this is overwhelming. As a brand, it’s a recipe for failure. Focus instead on the channels your target audience is on (see Tip #1). This way you can hone in on sending the the right message on the right platform to the right audience at the right time. To ensure your message is heard on social media, it needs to be targeted.

Bonus tip: Check out the social media demographics report on Business Insider. 

TIP #3: USE TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

Since the dawn of civilization, tools have played a significant role in human advancement. Look at any industry or profession right now and it’s likely being revolutionized by technology. Social media is no different! Whether creating on-brand visuals or listening for more opportunities to engage with your audience, social media technology and tools can increase your impact, save you time, and provide deeper insights. 

Bonus tip: Looking for social media monitoring tools? Check out this “best of” list. 

TIP #4: HASHTAGS MATTER - USE THEM WISELY.

Simple, yet powerful, hashtags can be the difference between your content standing out or getting lost in the flurry of daily social media posts. When used on most social media networks, hashtags become hyperlinked, searchable, and makes it very easy for users to find and join discussions aligned to their interests. However, there’s no need to hashtag everything! Instead, select two or three keywords to hashtag. And whatever you do, be sure to research your hashtag before using. 

Bonus tip: Research hashtags on hashtagify.me. 

TIP #5: SOCIAL MEDIA IS ALL ABOUT CONVERSATIONS.

At its core, social media is all about conversations. It’s about connecting with each other on a global scale to share information and experiences. As a brand, engaging with your audience is paramount to your success. Don’t just post status updates and hope for a response! Start conversations, respond to questions and comments, and share content that’s valuable to your audience.

In the spirit of Social Media Week, we encourage you to join the conversation and share with us your social media tips or questions! Post a comment below or tweet us at @exaqueo.  

If you liked this post, check out this one: Your Employer Brand is a Hero