Your social media presence can provide a window into your professional world as a graphic designer.
Crafting a strategic approach to your social accounts can significantly enhance your visibility and credibility within the industry and be leveraged in your job search. In this installment, we’ll delve into the nuances of social media strategy tailored specifically for graphic designers.
Creating a Branded Online Presence
Now, here’s the tightrope walk when it comes to sharing: How much is too much? Are you concerned with the privacy of friends and family, specifically how they might engage with you online? Maybe you create a professional account that you keep separate from your weekend and family vacation moments. Your social media profiles should seamlessly reflect your personal brand and professional identity as a graphic designer. From profile pictures to bio descriptions, ensure consistency in branding across all platforms. Choose a cohesive color palette, typography, and visual style that resonates with your target audience and showcase your design expertise and involvement in the design community.
Defining Personal Brand Philosophy
Take the time to articulate your personal brand philosophy – what sets you apart as a graphic designer? Whether it’s your passion for minimalist design or your expertise in UX/UI, clearly communicate your unique value proposition to your audience. If you need help with this, we’ve learned a lot by investigating the “About” sections of design firms; or thinking laterally, how does your favorite brand present their philosophy? Can you see how it drives their communication? Your brand philosophy functions as your social media highway’s guard rails and should permeate all aspects of your published content, resonating with potential employers and clients alike.
Sharing Original Content
Create and share original content that showcases your design skills, creative process, and industry insights. Flex your commentary muscles, keep it smart, and shy away from disparaging another designer or agency. With that said, don’t be afraid to offer a constructive critique, constructive being the operative word. Post everything from design tutorials to behind-the-scenes glimpses of your work, and provide valuable content that engages and educates your audience. Don’t be afraid to showcase your personality and unique perspective – authenticity breeds connection in the digital realm.
Engaging with Others’ Posts
Be relational. Active engagement is key to building meaningful connections on social media. Regularly interact with fellow designers, industry influencers, and potential employers by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts. Don’t be a lurker — be bold, engage in conversations, offer insights, and contribute to the vibrant design community… you never know when a design hero might become a new acquaintance or even a follower! Networking opportunities abound when you actively participate in the conversation and are even better when you’re the host.
Responding to Feedback
How are you at receiving feedback? Do you get defensive? Take it personal? We encourage you all to work on being a graceful receiver of feedback. Whether positive or constructive, it is invaluable in your professional growth as a graphic designer. Be responsive to comments, messages, and feedback from your audience, demonstrating professionalism and a commitment to continuous improvement. Use feedback as an opportunity to refine your craft, and strengthen your professional relationships. Mastering this is something that follows you in your career. We sometimes call it the factor in a person that makes them known as being teachable or coachable.
Frequency of Updates
Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining an active presence on social media. Develop a posting schedule that aligns with your availability and audience engagement metrics. We still love working things out on paper, however you might find you prefer a digital task manager — use what works for you. Whatever your ritual, whether it’s daily updates or weekly highlights, strive for regularity in your content sharing to keep your audience informed and engaged. The funny thing about building a readership or fanbase is: you’re building accountability. When what they want is more of you, that’s a good problem to have.
By implementing a strategic approach to your social accounts and content, you can effectively showcase your voice as an artist, your unique design expertise, build valuable connections, and position yourself for success in the competitive landscape of graphic design.
Here’s to climbing that mountain and going further with your social presence.
SINCERELY,
Sean Fermoyle
Graphic Designer/Art Director
SEANFERMOYLE.COM
Robert Robbins
Creative Director
ROBERTWROBBINS.COM
