According to Gitnux, as many as 90% of college students are active social media users. They often use these channels to share fun or engaging moments from their lives, stay in touch with friends and family, access a wealth of content, and keep up with the news. But there is another, even more, efficient way to leverage social media for your benefit — academic networking.

Networking, as a whole, plays a pivotal role in today’s world. It gives you the possibility to create your own support system, build relationships with people in your fields of interest, gain valuable insights and knowledge, and significantly expand your personal and professional perspectives.

Today, when 85% of jobs are filled through networking, it becomes even more important for modern students than their achievements in college. More and more young people now want to focus on building their own contact bases.

You can do the same: for instance, hire essay writer to delegate a part of your school load to experts and save a lot of time. And let’s discover how Student’s Guide on Leveraging Social Media for Academic Networking is useful.

What Is Academic Networking?

In a nutshell, networking is the process of communication and interaction with other people with the goal of developing a base of contacts.

Academic networking, in its turn, is the process of establishing and nurturing relationships specifically within the academic community. It can involve connecting with professors, scholars, researchers, and other professionals in specific areas.

Why Does It Matter to Students?

The process of establishing and maintaining the right contacts is not easy. As a student with an intense school load, you might find it hard to allocate enough time for this matter. Luckily, you can always use a reputable essay writing service to get more free time. But why do you need this in the first place?

For current students, academic networking offers a number of tangible benefits. Namely, it can:

• Expose you to a diversity of learning and research opportunities;
• Enable you to connect with established professionals to gain mentorship and guidance;
• Provide you access to valuable resources;
• Help you build a personal brand;
• Help you expand your job prospects and discover internship opportunities;
• Help you find partners and collaborators for your research projects.

Academic networking can foster your growth in the academic, professional, and personal areas. So it’s wise to invest your time in it.

5 Simple Tips to Start Using Social Media for Academic Networking Now

So you already know about some of the biggest benefits of building your base of contacts. But how can you do it?

The easiest way is through social media. Below are a few handy tips that will help you get on the right track.

1.   Allocate Enough Time

First of all, to start networking like a pro, you should approach it like your full-time job. This is an ongoing process that requires consistency, time, and dedication. So you need to find a way to combine it with your studies.

The easiest way to do this is to use “write my essay” services that can undertake your daily college assignments. With their help, you can dedicate enough time to interacting with people without harming your grades.

2.   Get on the Right Platforms

To connect with professors and researchers, you should try such platforms as LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Mendeley, Twitter, and Academia.edu. These channels will let you find relevant communities and discussions.

3.   Create Your Accounts

Once you pick the platforms that suit your needs, establish your profiles on them. Focus on making your accounts professional and engaging. Be sure to specify your own expertise and research interests to reflect your academic aspirations.

4.   Get Active

When your accounts are all set up, it’s time to start building your connections. To do this, you must get proactive and participate in the community as much as possible. Here are the main steps that you should take:

• Follow accounts of professionals and organizations you are interested in;
• Engage with relevant content with the help of likes, shares, and comments;
• Join engaging discussions and groups;
• Attend relevant online events whenever possible;
• Engage in conversations and be open to new connections.

These simple steps will help you start connecting with the right people. But don’t stop there.

5.   Share Your Own Projects, Findings, and Ideas

While engaging with others is an important part of the process, letting other people engage with you is also crucial for effective networking. Thus, don’t hesitate to use your profiles to showcase your own expertise and projects. This will let you generate interest and attract new people to your network.

The Bottom Line

Student’s Guide on Leveraging Social Media for Academic Networking can become a powerful tool for your personal and professional growth. And it’s definitely worth your time and effort. So enlist the help of the best paper writing services to streamline your school load and use this guide to start using social media to your benefit!

Lastly and most importantly, don’t stop even after you achieve some results. As was mentioned earlier, the process of effective connections building requires consistency. So continue developing your social media and stay active to gain real benefits!