Become a Subject-Matter Expert with Social Media

One of the primary reasons I’m such a champion of the tools of the online social web is that they enable anyone with an Internet connection -- not just the executives in the C-suite -- to position themselves as experts.

And what happens when you become an expert? You quickly become more attractive to potential future employers -- if not also to your current one.

So if you’re starting from scratch, how can you progress from anonymous to expert online? Here are a few suggestions:

Blog About Your Passion: It doesn’t really matter what that passion is -- knitting, traveling, the collision of marketing and technology, etc. Use the instant-publishing power of a blog to talk about subjects that drive and motivate you. If you can do that in a reasonably eloquent fashion, the readers will come -- and then they’ll keep coming back.

Connect with Other Bloggers: The most successful bloggers I know don’t just publish their own blog and call it a day. They also reach out to other bloggers who share similar interests. You can start by pledging to leave at least three comments a week on friends’ and colleagues’ blogs.

Maintain and Grow Your Online Network: Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are good places to find and follow like-minded professionals and hobbyists. As you make new connections and catch up with old friends and acquaintances, make sure they know what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at, and how you might help them. Remember that Networking is just as much about giving back to others as it is about helping your own career.

Participate in Online Conversations: Whether it’s through posting short messages on Twitter, leaving comments on blogs or taking part in a message board community like Monster’s, demonstrate your expertise by reading and listening well, and then offering thoughtful contributions to a group.

Organize and Join Events: Sometimes you need to take your online skills to a face-to-face setting. Speaking at a community-driven unconference in your hometown is one way to do that. But if you want to take things up a notch, use free-event-management tools on Facebook, Upcoming or Eventbrite, and organize your own in-person meetup.

Anything I’ve missed here? If you have your own success stories of using the social web as a career booster, share them in the comments section below.

And if you’re looking for more Monster resources on social media and social networking, check out these links:

• "Seven Tips for Social Networking Online"
• "Social Software and Your Career" 
• "Audio: Care for and Feed Your Online Network"

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