How To Use Social Media Communities to Learn, Network, and Advance

Social media is no longer just a platform for entertainment. It has evolved into a powerful educational, networking, and career-building tool. Engaging with relevant social media communities can open new opportunities for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals. 

Below, we’ll discuss how you can leverage social media use to build your skills, learn from industry leaders, connect with customers, and showcase your work.

Build Your Skills

Rapid technological changes have given birth to a generation of “new collar” workers—those who have obtained their skills in non-traditional ways, i.e., not through college education or previous work experience. When a company is looking for a social media marketer, for example, they don’t necessarily want someone with a degree. They want someone who has proven themselves on social platforms.

Strong communication skills for your resume are important no matter your industry. Today, video communication skills and etiquette are more important than ever. Instagram reels, YouTube, and TikTok all provide opportunities to build and display these public speaking skills.

Know What You Don’t Know

For beginners in any field, it’s been said that “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Social media is an excellent medium for ‘learning what you don’t know’ and filling knowledge gaps.

Consider an example. I took on beekeeping as a side hustle last year. The learning curve was so steep that I truly didn’t know how much I didn’t know about the workflow.

To take advantage of social media to fill knowledge gaps, simply locate the accounts of experts in your field and follow them.

Learning from Your Customers

In addition to learning from experts, social accounts can connect you with customers and clients from whom you can gain insights. How?

Comments and direct messages are one way. Similar to online product reviews, you can observe what your customers and clients really think in an unfiltered environment.

Social media is especially useful for small businesses building brand trust. Moving beyond comments, they can view statistics on posts to see what resonates with audiences and what falls flat. They can integrate these insights into brand-building.

Make Connections

Connection is at the heart of social media. Whether a platform calls them friends, followers, or connections, you can expand and utilize your network online.

LinkedIn Is King

LinkedIn is by far the most trusted networking space for professionals on social media. If you’re only going to nurture one social media account, choose LinkedIn.

Start by connecting with people you know in “real life.” Then reach out to experts and leaders in your field, professionals at companies you’d like to work with, and people you admire. Even if you can’t connect directly, you can follow their accounts and benefit from their posts.

Reach Out

Some professionals welcome connections with upstarts in their field. In 2023, for example, American real estate mogul John Guertin invited Instagram followers to connect to receive one-on-one business coaching.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask to connect with professionals who are “out of your league.” Consider two successful examples.

A few years ago, I was working on an article about women in construction. I contacted Ana Kraft, founder of women’s brand Xena Workwear, on LinkedIn and suggested a collaboration, which she accepted.

In January 2024, an independent travel agent with Fora reported reaching out to the boy band the Jonas Brothers on social media and invited them to a Camp Rock-themed trivia event she was hosting. Defying her expectations, they came to the event and later invited her to collaborate on a performance in Orlando, Florida.

The lesson? Don’t be afraid to reach out. You might get no reply, or you might make a valuable connection.

Social Media Portfolios

If you are an artist or in any creative field, social media can be an excellent space to highlight your best work. A vibrant social feed may be more interesting and engaging than a traditional portfolio. It can also showcase your personality and soft skills. You’ll be able to connect with other creatives whom you can learn from or collaborate with.

Social media portfolios are also great for other fields. For example, imagine you are an IT specialist who creates informative how-to videos. This establishes you as an expert in your field and proves to potential employers that you have the know-how to get the job done. 

Key Takeaways

After reading this article, you’ll likely never look at social media the same again. It’s not just a playground—it’s a powerful tool for networking and gaining new knowledge. You can use your social media feeds to practice new skills and showcase the ones you already have. You can use it to maintain relationships with your real-world contacts and reach out for new and exciting collaborations. You might even find a mentor to help you navigate the tides of your career.