Emma Wade-Smith on using Social Media in Global Diplomacy - Chief Influencer - Episode # 006

Emma Wade-Smith is His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Consul General in New York representing the United Kingdom. Emma shares how to leverage social media platforms to transform your personal and professional brand while remaining authentic, increasing engagement, and spreading positive messaging.
Takeaways: Take a hands-on approach to your social media presence and activity. Avoid simply handing over the keys to someone else. By logging in, liking, and engaging personally, you can maintain authenticity and connect with your audience.  Find the right balance between personal and professional in your social media content. Some things are better shared from a personal account than a company account. For example, leveraging personal interests like football while delivering the message. Understand the strengths and characteristics of each social media platform. LinkedIn works well for longer-lasting, substantive content, while Twitter is more news-oriented and in-the-moment. Tailor your messages and formats accordingly.  Major industry events can be leveraged as prime opportunities to connect with targeted people and convey important messages. These events provide a platform to engage with senior officials and decision-makers who may otherwise be difficult to reach. Great social media content is a team sport. Work closely with your content producers, marketing, and communications teams to brainstorm ideas, leverage their expertise, and create engaging content together. Focus on highlighting positive stories, successful investments, and the impact of your work. Use social media to showcase the extraordinary things people and companies are doing, even during challenging times.  Stay true to your personality and let your enthusiasm and energy shine through your social media presence. Connect with your audience by sharing your passion for the work you do, engaging them with your genuine interest and enjoyment.
Quote of the Show:“It was really important to me, right from the very start, that people got a sense of who I am and the passion and the energy that I personally bring to the role” - Emma Wade-Smith
Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ewadesmith  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawadesmith/  UK Department for Business and Trade Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-and-trade