1. Get a Head Start on College Admissions
As you start to think about college, remember that what you post on social media matters. Cornerstone Reputation, an educational company committed to helping students manage their digital footprints, has conducted surveys which reveal that 45 percent of college admissions officers searched applicants online during the 2014-15 admissions season. By curating your posts, linking your social media accounts, and creating a personal website, you can help determine what comes up first when others Google you. Like a resume or admissions essay, your online presence is another opportunity to make a great impression.
2. Explore Who You Are
Sharing information via your accounts and website is a great way to explore who you are. It helps you determine what matters to you most and how you want to connect with the world around you. As your interests change and evolve, so will your social media presence.
3. Create a Space All Your Own
Like having your own room, a personal website is exactly that - personal. You get to determine the content and style. It’s nice to have a place where you can express yourself without comments from others. By including links on your website, you can also direct traffic to your social media accounts.
4. Build Confidence
Let’s face it: as a young person, feeling comfortable expressing yourself can be challenging, whether it’s online or in the real world. Build confidence by defining your voice. What matters to you? How can you showcase who you are and bring out your best at the same time? Learning to communicate effectively via social media is a great way to hone your communication skills in general.
5. Broadcast the Amazing Things You're Doing
What makes you unique? Use your personal website to showcase your participation in sports, art, travel, volunteering, music, poetry, or other activities you care about. This is your opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
6. Impact Your Future
Investing in social media is empowering. By cultivating a positive and thoughtful online voice, you make it more likely that others searching for you will react to you in a positive way. This can have a great impact on the opportunities you receive. It’s also a great time to practice your writing skills. Strong writing will increase your chances of getting into the college and career of your choice.
7. Share with Potential Employers
Many employers like to see that students have a personal website. At a minimum, it tells them you are organized and tech-savvy. And it’s a quick, easy way for them to assess your skills when they make hiring decisions, especially if you include a bio and examples of your work.
8. Participate in an Important Part of Today's World
These days, a lot of important discussions happen online. News articles quote Twitter and Facebook. People debate issues and share information via posts and comments. By investing in social media, you are participating in the collective conversation, whether it’s between friends or with the global community. Of course, what, when, and where you post matters. Being thoughtful and respectful is always wise.
9. Have Fun
Designing your own website and and tailoring your social media accounts are exercises in creativity. Do you have an eye for design? Are you a budding writer? Let your individuality shine!
10. Make a Small Investment with Big Rewards
Not sure where to start? Check out Cornerstone Reputation’s virtual workshop. In two hours, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to control your online footprint. You’ll learn how to crosslink your social media accounts, adjust privacy settings, and have the opportunity to build your personal website. It’s a small investment that can greatly impact your choice of college, career, and beyond!
We thank our friends at Cornerstone Reputation for this post! About them:
Cornerstone Reputation is an educational company committed to empowering students to understand the impact of their online presence. Through tools and knowledge, Cornerstone seeks to ensure the time students spend online contributes to a positive reputation in today’s digitally interconnected world.