Since LinkedIn established itself as the go-to social media platform for professional networking, many people have ringfenced their Facebook profiles for friends and family only. This is a popular choice for many Facebook users, and as such an unspoken code of conduct has been established – you don’t use your personal Facebook profile for business purposes. But there’s a difference between constantly pushing your multilevel marketing products on your old high school acquaintances and simply letting your loved ones know that you have a particular set of skills they might benefit from. So here are some ways of casually, subtly, and tastefully making your social network aware of your professional credentials, whilst still respecting this unspoken rule.
Check-in on Facebook When You Attend In-Person Training Events
If you are upskilling and working on your professional development by attending a face-to-face training course, then let your Facebook friends know by checking in at the training location or with the training provider. Curious friends may use this as an opportunity to learn more about what you do professionally.
Share Referrals and Reviews for Online Training Courses
If you have taken an in-person or online professional development course, you could share a referral or post a review to the training provider’s Facebook page letting them know how useful you found it. Be sure to mention the specific new skills you acquired and set your review to ‘public’ so that it is visible in your Facebook friends’ new feeds.
Post a Picture of Your Post-Training Socialising
If you and your fellow learners head out to celebrate your new qualifications, share a snap of your post-training dinner and drinks to your Facebook timeline. Use the caption to mention where you have been and what you have studied to casually announce your professional skills to your online acquaintances.
Share a Post From Your Company’s Facebook Page
If you have acquired a new qualification or skills that benefit your business, then have your employer put out a post that shouts about your achievements. Mention the certification you have been awarded, the professional development course that you studied, and the key skills that you have acquired, and add a picture of you or your team to grab attention. You can then reshare this post to your personal timeline as a sincere way of celebrating your professional development qualification.
As you can see, there are simple ways of letting your Facebook network know about your professional skills that won’t cause the reader to roll their eyes and unfollow your profile. Your friends and family will be just as proud of your professional accomplishments as you are, and willing to celebrate your achievements with you. They are your biggest supporters, and though they may not need your specialist business skills right now – or indeed ever – they will be the first people to recommend and refer you when someone in their wider network does. So, whilst it's understandable that you don’t want to be salesy on your personal Facebook profile, make sure that you aren’t shy either. You never know where your next business lead might come from.
