A Conversation with Alex Lopez: On Growing a TikTok Following, Pivoting Your Strategy, & Staying True to Yourself

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A Conversation with Alex Lopez: On Growing a TikTok Following, Pivoting Your Strategy, & Staying True to Yourself

This is the 18th post in the “A Conversation With” series, where I interview smart humans about their experiences in communications, social media, and content creation. You can read past features here.

This month, I interviewed Alex Lopez, a writer and content creator who has grown a large following on TikTok over the past few years. In this blog post, we explore tips for going viral, pivoting your TikTok strategy, content creation as a career path, and more. 

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A Conversation with Megan Prather: Why Vulnerability on TikTok is Worthwhile

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A Conversation with Megan Prather: Why Vulnerability on TikTok is Worthwhile

This is the 16th post in the “A Conversation With” series, where I interview smart humans about their experiences in marketing and social media. You can read past features here.

This month, I interviewed Megan Prather, a certified coach who shares vulnerably about difficult parent relationships on her TikTok, where she has a following of 21,000. In this blog post, we dive into her approach to TikTok, why it’s worth getting vulnerable online, and how to balance content creation with caring for your mental health. 

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Reflections on Instagram: Its Evolution & Mine

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Reflections on Instagram: Its Evolution & Mine

There’s no denying that Instagram has been through quite an evolution. All apps need to adapt to keep up with what consumers want, but as a social media professional, I fear that Instagram is losing sight of itself in its efforts to keep up with competitors. Today on the blog, I’m sharing reflections on the changes we’ve seen with Instagram so far and how I’m shifting my approach to the platform.

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Headshots Matter. Here's Why.

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Headshots Matter. Here's Why.

The first time I had a headshot taken, I was 21 and starting my first office job after undergrad. I was working at my alma mater and the university photographer snapped a quick photo in front of a generic backdrop in his basement cubicle. I didn’t love the end result, but hey, it was just going up on our department’s website and nowhere else, so no big deal, right? A “meh” headshot wasn’t the end of the world, but it was a missed opportunity.

As my career has progressed, I’ve come to learn the value of a great headshot. It can make you feel way more confident and awesome as you market yourself online! For awhile, I used a black and white headshot an intern at another job took, but it never felt like me. When I finally got headshots I loved, it made a world of difference! I recently got new headshots and love them so much, which got me thinking about what makes a great headshot and how often you should update them. I figured I wasn’t the only one who has wondered about these things, so I talked to some of my photographer friends to get their best insights and tips!

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12 Things Not to Do on LinkedIn

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12 Things Not to Do on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a strange platform. While it can be great for networking and professional purposes, many people seem unsure of how to use the platform well. It can lead to inappropriate behaviors and cringey mistakes. In order to use LinkedIn effectively, you need to understand its purpose and why you’re there.

So, what is LinkedIn for? LinkedIn is a much more formal platform than Twitter or Instagram. It’s designed for creating a compelling profile to highlight your professional experience and connecting with people in your field. Ultimately, the goal is to craft a strong network that helps you move forward in your career.

What is LinkedIn not for? So many things! It’s not a dating site. It’s not a sales platform. It’s not for making new friends. Here are 12 things you should not do on LinkedIn.

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How to Craft a Kickass LinkedIn Profile

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How to Craft a Kickass LinkedIn Profile

Have you been underutilizing your LinkedIn profile for years? We’ve all been there. It’s easy to neglect. People love spending time on Instagram looking at pretty photos, and many folks are flocking to TikTok to bask in the creativity and be entertained. So are people really still using LinkedIn? Certainly! LinkedIn has 160 million users in the U.S. and 260 million monthly active users worldwide. The site boasts 20 million companies listed and 14 million open jobs, with 90% of recruiters regularly using LinkedIn

If you want to take some time to update your LinkedIn profile one of these days, how do you make sure it’s not boring? You want to stand out and make a positive impression. Here are my best tips for crafting a kickass LinkedIn profile.

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Maintaining Your Digital Identity

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Maintaining Your Digital Identity

This summer, I spent some time thinking about, and cleaning up, my digital identity. What’s that? Why? How? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Defining Digital Identity

Your digital identity is any aspect of your online footprint that’s discoverable by the general public. Honestly, it can and will be used to judge who you are as both a human and a professional. But don’t be scared. I’ll walk you through why you should care about it, how you can craft yours, and what you should do to maintain it.

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