10. How to build a professional online profile

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Publish or perish’. But what about the more recent maxim ‘Be visible or vanish’? Regardless of your career stage, there are many advantages to having a professional online presence: it will bring new opportunities, connections and visibility. But it can be hard to know where and how best to invest your time and energy when it comes to social media. In this episode, Michael and Jen talk about why to build your profile, where and how to start, and how to ensure you are developing your profile strategically.  We also specifically consider the value of LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram for scientists. In addition to our thoughts, hear fantastic advice from two of our UniMelbSciComm alumni, Kate Huckstep and Ebony Ciarrocchi.

We highly recommend listening to Kate’s podcast Curiosity Killed the Rat too!

Here are some good reads which may help as you create or build your profile:

Scientist Guide to Social Media - this article has an awesome table comparing the different platforms, as well as tips for each different platform

Twitter For Scientists - comprehensive online book with beginner, intermediate and advanced information

I’m a scientist and I want to use social media. Now what? - A good discussion of the different goals scientists have when using social media

Chemists are finding their place on Tik Tok and TikTok challenges us to communicate science - Two pieces about the potential of TikTok for SciComm

A social media survival guide for scientists - some excellent survival tips to responsibly using social media for science communication

How social media helps scientists get the message across - a study showing that research shared on social media (mainly Twitter) gets more academic citations

Social media as a scientist: a very quick guide - a quick, condensed guide to using social media for science, and examples of how you can use LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to network, exchange scientific ideas, or advance a career

Social media: A network boost - a thorough guide how scientists can use Twitter to increase their networks, as well as how employers use Twitter when recruiting

Here’s how many followers you need - a look into how many followers is needed to start reaching the broader public

Why We Scientists Do Instagram - why Instagram is an awesome platform for scientists, and how it helps boost visibility and correct gender stereotypes, especially for women in STEMM. There's also includes a nice mind-map of the motivations to blog about science

One tweet led to a spot on Bill Nye's show - an example of opportunities social media can lead to

Transcript: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/sy8e