Social Media to Make Professional Connections (II)

Ashley Barlow, PharmD (MD Anderson Cancer Center) & Brooke Barlow, PharmD (University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center) - @theABofPharmaC and PGY2 Pharmacy Practice Residents - talk to us about developing their professional brand using Twitter and why creating an online presence can help you achieve your career goals.

Key Lessons:

• Social media, especially Twitter, has become an increasingly important forum for connecting with professional colleagues and engaging in dialog about cutting edge issues that impact patient care and pharmacy practice.
• To get started, read this brief article by Robert Pugliese entitled How Twitter Has Made Me a Better Pharmacist.
• Consider maintaining separate professional and personal social media accounts.
• Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are the most commonly used social media platforms for professional networking purposes.
• Everyone should purposefully develop their professional brand online.  Your digital footprint ultimately reflects your reputation.
• Your online persona is perhaps the first and most important impression that others with have of you.
• Think about the ABCDEs of your social media presence. A - align your social media with your professional goals.  B - build your profile with a professional bio and photo.  C - curate the content you find interesting and important.  D - define your audience.  E - engage in conversations ... be sure to like, comment, and retweet!
• Your online network through social media can lead to many new opportunities.

Get the Social Media Infographic by Ashley and Brooke Barlow (@theABofPharmaC)