Quality Connections: How to Use Social Media to Advance Your Professional Brand

From Facebook to Twitter and Instagram, millennials seem to have easily grasped the new age way of communicating, while many in the older demographic are still playing catch up.

But social media is a valuable business tool for gaining information and branding for everyone. It’s the main reason 2015’s Women of Power Summit session, “Using Social Media to Advance Your Brand,” is designed to provide tips on how to use free tools to stay relevant, and market oneself to the world. Featuring speaker Lauren “LC” Johnson, founding editor of the female empowerment Website Colored Girl Confidential, the session is set to provide understanding on why social Â media is important as not just a millennial platform, but one that’s necessary for all.

“So often we talk ourselves out of owning our expertise. Â A lot of women of color have issues claiming their expertise and that can stop you from being on social media and claiming yourself,â€ says Johnson, who launched Colored Girl Confidential in February 2012.

“When I first started out, I had to get over my own fears of feeling like I didn’t have anything to add,” Johnson says. “We may have a fear we’re not ready to do it or the experience necessary to do so it. Our accomplishments and accolades don’t make us unique. What makes you unique are the things about your personality or experience or background that influence how you see the world. It’s what you bring to the table that no one else has. You have to be able to understand and articulate that to build a brand.â€

Johnson’s success in social media is like a fairy tale of sorts. Just three months after launching her site, a friend told her about Forbes’ search for 100 best sites for women.

After a bit of trepidation, Johnson swallowed fears and reached out to followers to share stories of how they’d been inspired and helped by Colored Girl Confidential. The result was overwhelming.

Check out more tips on Johnson’s story on the next page …