We’re constantly pulled to our screens to stay engaged and informed, living in a world where the internet never clocks out and keeping up becomes a responsibility.
For most people, that’s just another part of their daily routine. But for those of us working in this industry, that responsibility looks a little different.
As social media professionals, not only are we expected to stay informed but also to stay ahead of it. To sense a trend before it has a name and understand a community well enough to predict what it’s going to care about within the next week.
Which makes you wonder: in an industry where things change at an alarmingly fast rate, do you have to be chronically online to be good at your job?
Now here’s where I think the confusion lies. There’s a difference between having an online presence and being present online.
With an online presence, you have the opportunity to share your thoughts and images across a digital space and build a brand for yourself that others can recognize.
On the other hand, being present is a little different. You’re not building a brand. You’re paying attention to everyone else’s. You’re watching a trend from its peak to when it fades out, noticing how brands tailor it to fit their own goals and how audiences respond.
You can do your job without an online presence. You’ll struggle without being present online.
Tuning in for work includes:
This can happen without a personal account. You can be present online without ever building a following of your own. It is all about your intentions on the app.
Ultimately, being online for work isn’t about how much of yourself you put onto the internet.
It’s about how much you’re willing to pay attention to what’s already there.
For brands looking to stay connected without getting lost in the scroll, we’d love to talk about how using social media intentionally can help support your marketing strategy.
