Social Media In Professional Networking

If you asked me how to create a personal brand from scratch, this is what I would advice and the steps I have followed in creating my own brand: 💡Everything starts from knowing yourself. And in truth, it’s impossible to be false to anyone if you are self-aware. First, identify your interests, passions and strengths and what is unique to you. 💡Then know who you want to serve. Everyone has a story that resonates more with a certain group of people. So, find your tribe. 💡What message do you want to share with this tribe? It could be one that inspires, educates, empowers, thrill and excites or all of them. 💡Where will you find this tribe? Find what channel or platform your tribe frequents and start by engaging with them there. You don’t need to be everywhere for a start, instead establish a presence on one platform before spreading to the next. 💡Share valuable content. People first love you for what they can get from you, and this value isn’t always tangible. Some may love you for how they feel after engaging with your content and others because you offer something they can;t find anywhere else. Or some may simply prefer your delivery style. 💡Build genuine relationships by engaging authentically. Interact with your audience and appreciate their presence. 💡Seek partnerships and collaboration. No man exists on an island of influence alone, so find others who can support and help you along the way. 💡Finally, study the data, track your progress, make adjustments, and refine your strategy as you grow. Some additional thoughts: ☀️ From my journey creating content on LinkedIn and YouTube, I can say for certain that I am more comfortable writing than making videos. ☀️ Everyone is drawn to authenticity so being genuine trumps being perfect. ☀️ Vulnerability is endearing. ☀️ Share your story. It’s the one thing that makes you the most relatable to others. Whatever you do, just start where you are. How have you been building your personal brand?

You don’t need to attend awkward networking events to build connections. Here are 10 ways to network online (from your couch) to land your dream job, mentorship or just to stay in touch: 1. Start with warm calls, not cold DMs Reaching out to strangers is intimidating. So, begin with people you already admire or respect: past colleagues, old classmates, mentors, or anyone you’ve gotten value from. Reach out, share your goals, ask for advice, or simply reconnect. — 2. Build (or join) a 3-6 person mastermind Invite people you admire to check in monthly or quarterly. Ask 3 simple questions in each meeting: • What’s your biggest win? • What’s your biggest challenge? • How can we help each other? This becomes your personal board of advisors, and their networks become yours, too. — 3. Make intros within your own network Instead of always trying to add new people, try connecting two people you already know. It builds goodwill, and often sparks reciprocity. Some of my best opportunities came from introductions I made first. — 4. Be the tortoise, not the hare Strong networks aren’t built in a week. They come from consistency, trust, and staying top of mind. Check in. Celebrate small wins. Be helpful, even without asking for anything.  — 5. Send snail mail Want to stand out in a sea of LinkedIn messages? Send a handwritten card or even a fun comic with a note. The person will always remember your “extra” effort. — 6. Elevate the interaction • Only chatted with someone online? Try a call. • Had a few calls? Try a Zoom meeting. • Know them over Zoom? Meet up in person. Each upgrade strengthens the connection. — 7. Pick one platform to dominate Instead of being everywhere, go deep somewhere. For example, if it’s LinkedIn: • Endorse people • Write thoughtful comments • Share niche insights your network actually values   This depth pays off more than shallow visibility. — 8. Curate, don’t just connect Curate the best insights, tools, or articles in your niche, and share them regularly. You’ll become a trusted source people keep coming back or referring to. — 9. Do something fun together Shared activities build bonds. This could be as simple as playing a game, joining a sweepstakes, or co-hosting a webinar.  People remember who made them feel something. — 10. Swipe right (yes, really) Apps like Shapr or Invitly are designed for warm outreach — you match with people who want to meet others. It’s cold networking without the awkwardness. Networking isn’t about pitching. It’s about planting seeds. Start with one person. Reach out. Reconnect.  Then keep showing up, helping others, and making connections that count.

People Google everything. Including you. Before meetings, interviews, or even dates, your online presence is scrutinized. It's not just about looking good online, it's about strategically positioning yourself as an authority in your field. Here's how to make your PERSONAL BRAND stand out: 1. Create content that showcases your expertise • Write articles or blog posts on industry trends • Share insights from your professional experiences • Showcase unique stories from your personal client experiences. 2. Use SEO to ensure your content ranks • Research relevant keywords in your industry • Optimize your LinkedIn profile with these keywords • Include them naturally in your content titles and descriptions 3. Build a network that amplifies your voice • Engage meaningfully with others' content • Collaborate on projects or co-create content • Participate in relevant LinkedIn groups and discussions 4. Consistency is key • Maintain a regular posting schedule • Ensure your messaging aligns across all platforms • Keep your visual branding cohesive (profile picture, banner, etc.) 5. Showcase your achievements • Update your profile with recent accomplishments • Share case studies or success stories • Request and display recommendations from colleagues These strategies can transform your digital footprint from a mere online presence into a powerful personal brand. It opens doors to new opportunities, builds credibility, and creates a lasting impression in the minds of potential employers, clients, or partners. What steps are you taking to enhance your online presence? P.S. Need help with your personal brand? Send me a DM. #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalDevelopment #OnlinePresence #LinkedInTips

If I were a 'Fresher' looking for a job in 2026, I wouldn’t spend my entire day refreshing LinkedIn and Naukri.com. I’d look beyond them. Because the right opportunity may be sitting on a platform you haven’t even created a profile on yet. Here are a few places/pages I’d kept on my radar:- 1. Michael Page Useful for curated opportunities across finance, consulting, banking and investments. Also, keep your profile updated so relevant recruiters can discover you for open mandates. 2. iimjobs.com And no, it’s not just for IIM graduates. One of the better platforms to explore roles across finance, strategy, consulting, investment banking and corporate development. 3. Foundit Formerly Monster, it has a large pool of corporate openings. Upload an updated CV, use the right keywords and set up alerts instead of manually searching every day. 4. eFinancialCareers One of the few platforms focused specifically on financial services careers. Worth exploring if you’re targeting banking, asset management, markets, fintech or other specialised finance roles. 5. VC Jobs Trying to break into Venture Capital? Follow this LinkedIn page. It curates opportunities across VC and the startup ecosystem that can otherwise be difficult to discover. 6. Indeed The sheer volume of listings makes it particularly useful for freshers. Instead of searching for “CA jobs”, try specific keywords like FP&A, Financial Analyst, Internal Audit, Transaction Advisory or Corporate Finance and set up alerts for them. 7. AmbitionBox Yes, it has a dedicated Jobs section too. You can search for openings and then use the same platform to check company reviews, salary insights and interview experiences before applying. 8. Instahyre Useful if you’re exploring startups and new-age companies. Build a strong profile and recruiters can discover and reach out to you for relevant opportunities too. 9. Follow VC funds directly If you want to work in VC, don’t just search for “Venture Capital Analyst” on job portals every day. Follow the funds you admire. Many share openings for their own investment teams and portfolio companies directly on LinkedIn. 10. Follow specialised recruitment firms AND their recruiters Pages like The LHR Group, Native, Intellectual Capital HR Consulting Pvt. Ltd., etc regularly share openings across finance, BFSI, investment banking and related roles. One more thing I’d do differently? - I wouldn’t apply to 100 jobs with the same CV. - Set up alerts for relevant keywords. - Track my applications. - Follow recruiters in my target industry. - And spend more time finding the right opportunities than blindly clicking “Easy Apply.” Because a good job search is not just about applying more. It’s about knowing where to look. 🔖Save this! You might not need it today, but you’ll know exactly where to look when you do. And if you know an underrated platform or page for finance jobs, drop it in the comments. Let’s make the list more useful for everyone.

If you over-curate & overthink your personal brand to perfection, your engagement will be dead! You see them everywhere—polished, poised, and perfectly positioned personal brands. Yet, their engagement is flat. Their audience? Passive. This is the"Perfect Persona" Effect—where people curate an online brand so flawlessly that it becomes unrelatable. And science backs this up. 📌 A study from Harvard Business Review found that leaders who share their struggles increase trust by 66% compared to those who only share polished success. 📌 Social psychologist Dr. Elliot Aronson’s "Pratfall Effect" proves that people perceive those who show vulnerability as more likable than those who appear perfect. The brands that win aren’t the ones that look flawless. They’re the ones that feel real. This is how we work this out with SackBerry clients: 1. Show the process, not just the results. ❌ “We grew our business 10x in a year!” ✅ “We struggled for months with zero sales—here’s what finally worked.” People relate to struggles, lessons, and real journeys. Share the how, not just the highlight. 2. Write like you talk. The easiest way to sound human? Read your post out loud. If you wouldn’t say it in a conversation, rewrite it. 3. Share your unpopular opinions. The fastest way to stand out isn’t to blend in. Take a stance. Challenge industry clichés. Say what others won’t. 4. Use the “3-Post Rule” to create trust. Your content should rotate between these formats: A personal story (human connection) An actionable insight (expert credibility) A polarizing take (sparks discussion) 5. Don’t fear the “mess.” -Not every post needs to be perfect. - Test new ideas. - Share drafts. - Build in public. People love watching something unfold in real time. So, tell me—what’s one thing you wish more people shared online? #PersonalBranding #Authenticity #BuildingInPublic #ContentMarketing

Everyone's trying to be everything to everyone on LinkedIn. We see it every day on our feeds - professionals posting about their morning routines, industry updates, 'controversial takes' & 'unpopular opinions'... only to wonder why nothing sticks. Which is unsurprising, since: 🌟 90% of LinkedIn posts get <10 engagements 🌟 Most people x2 a month before giving up 🌟 The average user talks about 5 different things in their 1st month (if they're even consistent) (Note: This is a gauge based on personal observations) * But earlier this week, I found myself standing outside Kitsuneya, a tiny stall in Tokyo's Tsukiji Market, thinking that it would make for great content. Because since 1947, Kitsuneya has served just 2 main items: Gyudon & an offal-based beef bowl I've been there twice. Each time, I'm greeted by a massive queues, rapid service & exceptional food. Because they chose their lane and owned it. I've seen this same principle transform my clients: 🌟 S, a Wall Street analyst turned entrepreneur - who focuses on career transformations/pivots - she went from a 5 to 6-figure monthly income within 30 days 🌟 M, a senior ESG executive - who showcases ESG case studies in a simple yet relatable manner - he was featured x3 by LinkedIn News Asia & landed multiple media opportunities 🌟 N, who left her C-suite role to start her own business - who experienced a 4,699.3% increase in impressions, x4 in follower count & multiple viral posts (one hit 335k+ impressions) within 3 months So how do you find your focus? Here's your playbook: 1. 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 3-5 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 ↳ Be ruthlessly specific ↳ E.g. career pivots for Southeast Asian professionals in finance 2. 𝐁𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 ↳ Post weekly for 3 months minimum ↳ Schedule posts for 8 - 9am (your audience's time) ↳ Ignore initial low engagement - you're building habits 3. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 ↳ 10 minutes of engagement before posting ↳ Reply to comments within the hour 4. 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 ↳ Ring the bell for your competitors ↳ Build a swipe file (I use Notion) ↳ Never copy * Think of your personal brand like that gyudon stall: ❌ You're not here to serve everything. ✅ You're here to be known for something specific. When I left law to become a personal brand strategist, I could have talked about everything. Instead, I chose my bowl. 🍜 And that focus changed everything. What's your signature bowl going to be? 😉 * ♻️ Repost if you found this post helpful. Follow me Ling Yah for more strategic personal branding insights!

One of our clients went from 30K to 1 million+ impressions in 90 days. Same founder. Same posting frequency. We just changed what they talked about and how they framed it. I documented every strategy we used. They'd been posting for months before we worked with them. Decent content. Consistent schedule. Around 10K impressions a month. By any normal measure, things were working. But nobody was saving their posts or sharing them on LinkedIn. The content was getting seen and immediately forgotten. Here's what we changed to scale their account- ⤷ The Curiosity-Supply Gap: Every niche has topics where audience curiosity is high but almost nobody is writing about them. Find those, and you stop competing for attention entirely. 2. The Villain Origin Story: Trace a widely accepted industry practice back to its flawed or outdated origin, and your audience starts seeing you as the person who shows them what's actually going on. 3. The Trade-off Confession: Name what your biggest win actually cost you, because a founder who tells you what success looks like up close gets trusted faster than one who makes it look clean. 4. The Failed Experiment: Share a failure with exact numbers and a specific root cause. 5. The Series Cliffhanger: Break one big idea across multiple posts and end each one with exactly where you're going next; your audience stops waiting for the algorithm to show them your content and starts looking for it themselves. I have documented 5 more strategies we used to grow their account, each with practical examples and a strategy to use AI for faster execution.  Comment "GROWTH" and I'll send it over. #LinkedInGrowth #ContentStrategy #PersonalBranding #B2BMarketing #CreatorEconomy

Creating FOMO is an art. What if you paused your posts for 2 weeks and focused solely on commenting? I put this to the test. Here’s what unfolded 👇 Profile visits skyrocketed (way more than when I was actively posting)  I connected with 50+ new professionals without sending a single cold DM  A few people reached out, curious about my work  And the craziest part? This all stemmed from engaging in the comments section No viral content. No meticulously planned content calendar. No “personal brand strategy.”  Just being present in the right discussions. Most individuals overlook the power of comments:  “Great post!” “🔥🔥” “Well said.” That approach won’t get you noticed. The comments section is where opportunities are waiting. So, how long can you realistically maintain commenting 20–30 times a day? Here’s why this matters (and what you can take away): 1. Engagement drives visibility. → People notice those who contribute meaningfully. → A thoughtful comment stands out in a sea of generic responses. → Your insights can spark conversations and connections. 2. Authenticity fosters relationships. → Genuine interactions build trust. → People are drawn to real voices, not just faceless profiles. → Commenting allows you to showcase your personality. 3. Consistency creates familiarity. → Regular engagement keeps you top of mind. → The more you show up, the more people remember you. → It’s a subtle way to build your presence without shouting. 4. The right conversations can lead to partnerships. → You never know who’s watching. → Engaging in discussions can open doors to collaborations. → Comments can be the start of something bigger. 5. The best networking doesn’t feel forced. → It’s about connection, not just promotion. → When you engage genuinely, you attract the right opportunities. → Let your voice be heard in a way that resonates. That’s the essence of effective networking. P.S. How would your network grow if you focused on meaningful comments instead of just likes? 

You don't need to send 50 cold messages to strangers. You need to show up where your people already are. Here's how I approach it (and honestly, it's simpler than you think): 💜 Start with likes – I know, sounds basic. But when you consistently like someone's content, they notice. You're on their radar now. 💬 Then add thoughtful comments – Not "Great post!" but something real. Share your take, add value, ask a genuine question. This is where people start remembering your name. 🤝 Send connection requests to people you've engaged with – They've already seen you around. Now you're not a random face, you're someone who gets their content. ✉️ DM with intention – Once you're connected, say something specific. Compliment their recent post, mention something you both care about. Make it feel like a real conversation, not a pitch. ☕ Suggest a coffee chat – If the conversation flows well, take it off the platform. Virtual coffee chats have led to some of my best collaborations. 🎯 Collaborate when it feels right – Co-create content, do a LinkedIn Live together, feature each other's work. This is where your network turns into your community. Your personal brand grows when you're genuinely interested in others, not just interesting to others. The connections that matter? They start with you showing up, being helpful, and staying consistent. P.S. Want to build a personal brand that attracts the right connections? DM me for a free consultation call. #PersonalBranding #LinkedInNetworking #ContentCreators #CommunityBuilding #NetworkingTips #LinkedInGrowth #AuthenticConnections

Nowadays, you might have noticed that companies are asking employees: "Whatever you do, put it on LinkedIn and tag us!" Why? Because one post from you can bring 10x more visibility than the company’s official page. Yes, it's happening. And that’s the power of "Employee Advocacy." Companies today are asking employees to share work stories, success, and culture on LinkedIn. It helps the company reach more people — in a more real and human way. Why this works: ⇾ People trust employees more than ads ⇾ Your network is full of potential clients, job seekers, partners ⇾ It makes the company look more friendly and trustworthy 📍Example: Let’s say you work at a logistics company. Your company recently handled a big project smoothly. Instead of only the company’s LinkedIn posting about it, you also write: “Proud to be part of the team that delivered 100+ heavy cargo units safely for a power project. Learned so much about coordination, planning, and client handling.” This one post shows: You’re skilled Your company does good work Your team works well together Now imagine 20 employees doing the same — it builds strong brand image without any paid ads. As an employee, it helps YOU grow your personal brand, build confidence, and attract opportunities. As a company, it helps share culture, projects, and values through real voices. Next time something good happens at work — a success story, a fun activity, a new learning — don’t wait for HR to post. You post it. Let your network know what you’re a part of. Because you are the voice of your company. #EmployeeAdvocacy #WorkStories #LinkedInTips #CompanyCulture #PersonalBranding #TeamWins #HRTrends #GrowthMindset