Early Career Social Currency: What It Is And How To Use It To Build Your Personal Brand Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Written by Mint Published Mar 30, 2020 - [Updated Jun 27, 2022] 6 min read Advertising Disclosure The views expressed on this blog are those of the bloggers, and not necessarily those of Intuit. Third-party blogger may have received compensation for their time and services. Click here to read full disclosure on third-party bloggers. This blog does not provide legal, financial, accounting or tax advice. The content on this blog is "as is" and carries no warranties. Intuit does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the content on this blog. After 20 days, comments are closed on posts. Intuit may, but has no obligation to, monitor comments. Comments that include profanity or abusive language will not be posted. Click here to read full Terms of Service. Social Currency Definition Social currency describes the power and influence you yield on social networking platforms to impact others around you. One of the keys to building a strong online identity is understanding how social currency and your overall personal brand play a role in social networking. The good news is that you don’t have to start from square one. You can borrow social network currency strategies from major brands and influencers to use your online persona for genuine connections and influence. However, remember that successful social brands are those that show authenticity, trustworthiness, and reliability on every post. They create a community of like-minded individuals from all around the world. Keep reading for a more detailed description of how social currency works and how you should spend it. You can also jump to our infographic below or the section that interests you the most to make it easier. Either way, we’re happy you’re here. How Does Social Currency Work?The 6 Attributes of Social CurrencyUsing Social Currency To Build Your Personal BrandSocial Currency FAQs How Does Social Currency Work? Social media currency increases the more loyal, authoritative, and reliable your brand becomes. When posting, you’re focusing on what makes you different and better than the rest. That’s why the most authentic influencers out there are known to have the most loyal audiences. Viewers truly feel like they are part of a community and take their advice seriously. Businesses can leverage their social currency by showing the behind the scenes of projects in the works, product teasers, and some potential hardships that got in the way before completing projects. This provides individuals and brands the ability to relate to viewers through storytelling on a daily basis. The 6 Attributes of Social Currency There are six key attributes that optimize your social currency: affiliation, conversation, utility, value, advocacy, information, and identity. Leveraging one or more of these attributes can help you build a successful online presence. When working on your brand, there are some ways to use your social currency to grow your authority in your industry of interest. Affiliation When growing your personal brand, you want to foster a community of those that are interested in the same things as you. To gain the right audience, post industry-specific content that would only attract those that are interested in the same thing as you. Conversation Once you’ve created a community, get the conversation going! When posting a new image, article, or video, ask your audience a question to answer in the comments afterwards. It’s just as important to comment back. At the end of your day, schedule out a chunk of time to respond to your audience’s answers or questions. Utility Consistently post tips, tricks, and other valuable information for your audience to read. For instance, share interesting podcasts, free printables, or ebooks that your viewers would find appealing. Advocacy As most individuals trust social media influencers more than they do businesses, make sure you’re always staying true to your brand. Only share products and services that benefit you rather than your bank account. Sharing products or services that aren’t as good as you thought could damage your personal brand and viewer loyalty. Information Share industry specific information within your niche. Share relatable blog posts about your experience within the industry or helpful guides your audience would find useful. Whatever it may be, provide valuable and unique insight into your community’s niche. Identity While your audience grows, consistently communicate how similar you all are. You most likely have similar passions and interests. Let your audience know they are a community of like-minded individuals throughout your posts and videos to create more personal relationships. Using Social Currency To Build Your Personal Brand Your personal brand plays a leading role when setting your career and salary expectations. Recruiters look at the community of followers you attract and how you choose to interact with them. Since nearly 40 percent of people trust and value recommendations from influencers over businesses, what you choose to share leaves a mark on your personal brand. As nearly 70 percent of the U.S. population has a social media profile, it’s a great way to showcase your brand as a young professional. Using social media, you can show your audience the authenticity that goes into your work, services, products, and passion for whatever you’ve been working toward. The more your audience resonates with your personal brand, the more your engagement rates and trustworthiness grows. Employees who have a strong personal brand show their authority and trustworthiness in that specific industry. Recruiters will look at what audiences you attract and how you communicate with them. Adding an employee with a strong personal brand to your team adds value to the business’s overall brand. Your personal audience will most likely show loyalty in the brand you work for through the exposure and opinion you portray on social media. Here are a few easy ways you can use social currency to build your brand and improve your career: Check your audience monthly: Consistently check who follows you and who you communicate with, since recruiters look at the followers you attract and how you connect with them.Add five or six hashtags to every post: Every post you publish, add at least five to six relevant hashtags in your description, in your comments section, and profile bio. Create a private and professional account: Create two separate accounts. Switch your account setting to private for all the accounts you’d like to keep personal, and leave your professional accounts open for other professionals to see!Google yourself regularly: Control your Google image by creating your own online portfolio. That way, when other professionals search your name, all your achievements will come up first.Have a consistent message across all platforms: Keep all of your profile bios, profile pictures, and content aligned. That way, when professionals cross-reference your profiles, they won’t find any differences. Navigating social media and the methods to build an authentic brand is no small task. As we’ve discussed, it takes a loyal community, engagement, and, above all else, genuine passion. Once you’ve checked all these boxes — and we know you will — use our app to keep track of your earnings and reap the benefits of your hard work. Social Currency FAQs Take a gander through some commonly asked questions regarding social currency and online influencing. How Do You Build Social Currency? Here are some common strategies used to build social currency online: • Be unique• Ask questions and engage with your audience • Explore different content platforms • Create a community• Have a strong social media strategy • Praise your audience Why Is Social Currency Important? Social currency allows brands to see the direct impact their influence can have on an audience when it comes to buying, selling, or promoting a product. What Is the Social Currency of This Generation? Some label Gen Z as the Like Generation — meaning the more likes you receive, the more social currency you have online. Previous Post How to Date on a Budget Next Post What Is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) + How Can It… Written by Mint Mint is passionate about helping you to achieve financial goals through education and with powerful tools, personalized insights, and much more. More from Mint Browse Related Articles Mint App News Intuit Credit Karma welcomes all Minters! Retirement 101 5 Things the SECURE 2.0 Act changes about retirement Home Buying 101 What Are Homeowners Association (HOA) Fees and What Do … Financial Planning What Are Tax Deductions and Credits? 20 Ways To Save on… Financial Planning What Is Income Tax and How Is It Calculated? Investing 101 The 15 Best Investments for 2023 Investing 101 How To Buy Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide Investing 101 What Is Real Estate Wholesaling? Life What Is A Brushing Scam? Financial Planning WTFinance: Annuities vs Life Insurance