Determine why you want a social network: are you just creating a page to have one, are you going to use it as a marketplace, or are you going to share information? Based on that, make a strategy. In our case, we need more useful information. Our social media readers can find a career opportunity there, a new podcast, articles on different areas, employer ratings, reviews, talk to employees in the comments.
We often use the term “Influencers” to describe people with significant social media followings on platforms like Instagram, Twitter TikTok, Youtube, Linkedin and Facebook. Influencers have become today’s media titans, sought after for everything from product placements to timely trends. What’s the difference between influence and impact? Fans and followers? Sizzle versus staying power?
In this interview series, called, “How To Cultivate Community In A Click to Connect World” we are talking to influencers about how they define success and what we all need to discover about the true nature of influence. As a part of this series I had the pleasure of interviewing Narine Arakelyan.
Narine Arakelyan, PR Manager at Usetech. She is in charge of internal and external communications and promotion of the employer’s brand.
Thank you for making time to visit with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. How did you discover your career path and what got you to where you are today?
Hello! The beauty of the 21st century is that we do not stand still, and we don’t have to choose one direction and work in it for the rest of our lives. I started out as an HR manager, which included the entire HR cycle. After that I managed to successfully combine work with my employees and my HR brand. Now I’m dealing with internal communications/DevRel and working with the HR (employer) brand Usetech.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way that influences how you operate now?
Don’t be shy to ask questions
No one is perfect, we learn a lot on the job
Be honest with yourself, your team and your manager
Good time management is our everything
We’re all searching for some good news. How are you using your platform to make a positive social impact?
First, we try to help specialists from different communities to develop: we share expert articles of our colleagues, tell them how to develop in this or that field, how to learn a programming language or use new Figma features. We also publish podcasts and invite our readers to online meetups. And of course, we don’t forget about our corporate culture. We show what an active corporate life we have, even if we work remotely, and what you should pay attention to when choosing an employer.
Many of our readers are influencers as well. Others have tried and have yet to succeed. What words of advice would you offer to aspiring influencers, knowing what you know now?
The fact that people are trying is already a success. Don’t let the inner feeling that it won’t work get in your way. Know how to distinguish between constructive feedback and toxic comments. If we’re talking about how to get started, start small: describe your development path, write about what you know best, try new things and describe new experiences. Everything comes with time.
Success is often a matter of perspective. I’ve always resonated with Henry David Thoreau’s quote, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” How do you see success — or define success — for yourself now?
Sometimes we think success is about the immediate here and now and of incredible proportions. I see success in small victories in the process, it motivates me to go forward and keep doing what you do even better. And of course — the end result of that journey.
What are your strategies to make room for who and what matters most?
Always listen to yourself. No one knows better than you whether you want to do this task, learn a new language or do yoga.
I always ask two questions:
Do I want to do it and why (sometimes you can do it without why, just that you want it)
Set your priorities. Unfortunately, you can’t do everything at once. Do not forget about work-life balance, but also about life-inner peace balance.
How do you reduce or mitigate stress?
I try not to be stressed too much. Probably the fact that I really like my work and I’m lucky with my team, and of course yoga plays a role here. Remember, no matter what the situation, your health is most important. In a calm emotional state you are more productive and will be able to make informed decisions, react properly to what’s going on.
I’m going to try a few of your tips, and I’m hopeful our readers will, too. Now it’s time for the big reveal — the moment our readers have been anticipating. What are your “five strategies to cultivate a large & engaged social media community?’ Please share a story or example for each.
First, determine why you want a social network: are you just creating a page to have one, are you going to use it as a marketplace, or are you going to share information? Based on that, make a strategy. In our case, we need more useful information. Our social media readers can find a career opportunity there, a new podcast, articles on different areas, employer ratings, reviews, talk to employees in the comments.
What do you do to create a greater sense of connection and community among your fans?
The engagement of our readers is mostly reflected in the reposting of our content. People see the value, share content with their friends, bring in new subscribers, and most importantly, talk about it in interviews.
As an influencer, you are, by definition, a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
The fight against food waste, the fight for women’s rights (there is a large spectrum here: unfortunately, in so many countries women live without the right to vote), the fight against hunger.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He, she or they might just see this. 🙂
I don’t know, there’s probably no such person yet.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
To follow us, I suggest you subscribe to our Linkedin page — https://www.linkedin.com/company/usetech-integration/ , I will also leave my page as a contact — https://www.linkedin.com/in/narine-arakelyan-95339bb1
Thank you for these thought provoking insights. Here’s to your continued success!