Expand Your Network

Social media networking is essential. There’s no way around using it, and it’s not going to fade out any time soon. Millions of people are logging on to one social media network or another and connecting with individuals and businesses. As an executive it’s in your best interest to join the social networks that will give you the best results. While the average person doesn’t necessarily want to read about what you’re having for dinner, you certainly have more important things to say that could benefit others. Consider using one of these five social media networks to boost your popularity. Who knows? It might even help you advance in your career.

LinkedIn

Considered the only “safe for work” social media network, LinkedIn is an excellent place to showcase your professional achievements, previous positions, educational background, and knowledge of skills. You can connect with people based on where you’ve worked in the past, where you went to school, or who’s listed in your email contacts. You can also network with people in similar fields through LinkedIn groups, and there’s even an endorsement section on each profile where you can validate the skills and experiences of your connections.

Meetup.com

Meetup.com is probably the least known social media networking site. It’s still relatively new, but it’s great for finding people who share common interests and goals. There are groups ranging from personal interests to professional interests, and meetups happen almost every day. The site is broken down by zip code so meetings are more than likely happening in your area. Use meetup.com to connect with people in similar industries or find groups that might benefit from your product or services. You can also contact group administrators to discuss the possibility of presenting at one of the meetups.

CareerBuilder

If you’re looking for a career change or looking to hire new employees, CareerBuilder is the place to be. While it’s not commonly known as a social media site, it’s actually a pretty vital place when searching for a job or trying to fill a position. Regular members can join for free and view from hundreds of jobs posted in every different field and industry. Businesses can post job openings and browse member profiles. Connecting with people is easy as well. Once you’ve found someone you’re interested in, you can send them an email asking for more information. And the best part about the site? It’s free.

Quora

This question-and-answer website is truly like no other. It’s completely run by its users, who can post questions for others to answer. If a reply is a good answer, it moves up the line to the top ranking spot, but if it is not a good answer it sinks to the bottom. You can also suggest edits to other people if you think the question hasn’t been fully answered. It’s a great site if you just have a list of questions you want answered or if you want some insight into the minds of a specific demographic. Let Quora users do all the research for you!

Google Plus

Google has done an excellent job connecting its own social media site to the already wildly popular search engine. The network connects to your Gmail profile, and it allows people to search through your updates and post to your wall. The site is very similar to Facebook, but adds in that special Google flare. You can also create a business page on Google Plus so that you can connect with your potential customers. Social media is all around us nowadays. Which networks will you choose to join?