In the fast-paced world of public relations and communications, we thrive on using social media to enhance our clients’ brands. But what about us? How often do we use the same strategies to showcase our own expertise and thought leadership? We recently took a step toward bridging this gap with a workshop focused on improving our personal social media presence — specifically on LinkedIn. The aim? To help each of us become more comfortable and confident in using social media to amplify our voices and, in turn, the voice of our agency.
Why this is important to us
Social media can often seem daunting, especially when we think of it in terms of building a “brand” or positioning ourselves as “thought leaders.” But it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. The space in between — where we regularly engage with content by liking, reposting or commenting — can be just as powerful. It’s about taking manageable, short steps to build our own visibility and connect with peers in the industry and beyond.
As we share insights, celebrate our team’s achievements and engage with industry trends, we are participating in — and in turn shaping — meaningful conversations. It’s not about overnight change, but about consistently engaging and contributing to the ongoing dialogue within our professional networks.
Empowering each other: A team approach to social media success
Our Social Media team recently hosted a workshop to empower and inspire our colleagues with practical tips on how to get started and engage effectively on LinkedIn.
We discussed how to create a strong profile, interact with others in relevant ways and write engaging posts. The aim was to make social media feel more accessible to those who may have been hesitant to dive in personally.
Key takeaways included:
- Start small: You don’t have to become a thought leader overnight. Simple actions like sharing articles that resonate with you, commenting on interesting posts or liking content that speaks to you can add value to your network. These small steps can gradually build a strong online presence.
- Be authentic: Social media isn’t about putting on a professional facade. It’s about bringing your true self to the platform — sharing your perspectives, experiences and expertise in a way that feels genuine to you.
- You don’t have to know it all: You don’t have to be a leading authority on a subject to contribute meaningfully to the conversation on social media. Sharing your unique insights or experiences can add significant value and enrich the discussion. Even if you’re just starting out, your genuine contributions will land with others and help build a more diverse and inclusive dialogue within your network. Engaging in conversations on topics you care about helps you grow and also brings fresh perspectives to your audience.
Our Employee Advocacy Hub
To support our team on this journey, we’ve developed The Hoffman Agency LinkedIn Guide, a resource full of tips and examples. Whether someone is new to LinkedIn or wants to hone their presence, the guide has something for everyone — from setting up a strong profile to generating content ideas. It’s designed to help everyone use LinkedIn with confidence.
We’ve also introduced a dedicated internal channel where we support each other on our social media journey. This space provides content inspiration, feedback on post ideas and more. It’s a collaborative environment where we can share resources, stimulate discussion and grow our online presence together.
Moving forward together
By embracing social media as a team, we’re supporting each other along the journey regardless of where each individual is on it. It’s a collective effort, with each unique voice contributing to our shared success.
