Earlier this year, Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) hosted a practical bitesize session focused on using LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) with confidence. Led by Jaiye Elias, WRC’s Head of E-Commerce Marketing and Communications, the session empowered attendees to overcome common social media hesitations and build a strong online presence.

While social media can feel overwhelming at times, this session was designed to break down barriers and give practical tips to help women in the women’s sector make the most of these powerful platforms. Whether you missed the event or want to revisit the insights, here are some key takeaways.

Why Social Media Matters

With more than 4.95 billion active users globally, social media plays an essential role in how we connect, communicate, and advocate. Despite its prevalence, many feel unsure about using social platforms effectively. Concerns like oversharing, lack of time, or confusion over how it works can hold people back.

To tackle this, Jaiye encouraged participants to think of social media as a ‘tool we control’, rather than something that controls us. By approaching platforms like LinkedIn and X with clear objectives, we can focus on what we want to achieve and use them more intentionally.

The Three Steps to Posting Confidently

To build confidence in using social media, Jaiye shared a simple framework:

1. Scope: Decide whether you want to post about professional topics, personal topics, or both. Clarifying this helps you stay focused.
2. Purpose: Know why you’re posting. Whether it's to raise awareness, promote your work, or engage with a specific community, understanding your goal will drive more meaningful engagement.
3. Timing: Identify the best time in your day to post, fitting it into your routine so it feels manageable rather than overwhelming.

Finding Your Voice on LinkedIn

During the pandemic, LinkedIn transformed from being purely about professional achievements to becoming a space where people share personal stories that connect to their work. This shift provides an opportunity for professionals, especially in the women’s sector, to use the platform not only to showcase their expertise but also to humanise their professional journey. By combining personal and professional narratives, you can stand out and forge deeper connections.

To get started, Jaiye suggested creating a balance between professional and personal content pillars. Here’s how:

• Identify three key topics: In both your personal and professional spheres, choose the three things that matter most to you. These can range from issues you care about (like gender equality or economic justice) to topics where you have expertise (such as non-profit leadership or policy work).

For instance, if you work in the women's sector, you might focus on advocacy for gender equity, promoting sustainable funding for women's organisations, and mentorship in leadership development.

• Post authentically: LinkedIn allows you to build credibility by showcasing authentic stories. Whether it’s a project you’re proud of, an obstacle you overcame, or a community you support, make your posts engaging by tying them to real-world experiences. This blend of personal authenticity and professional purpose helps foster trust with your connections.

LinkedIn Essentials

Jaiye highlighted several ways to improve your LinkedIn presence:

• Use high-quality images: Images attract attention. For professional use, Jaiye recommended rights-free image platforms like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay. These sites offer a wide variety of high-quality images that can make your posts stand out. Posts with images perform better, getting twice the comments.
• Try short videos: Videos under 30 seconds are perfect for catching the eye of your LinkedIn network. You can use these clips to summarise reports, offer a behind-the-scenes look at events, or share snippets from longer presentations. Short videos not only increase engagement but also help build rapport.
• Leverage LinkedIn Articles: If you’ve written a blog or report that you want to share, Jaiye advises posting it as a LinkedIn Article. Unlike posts, articles have no character limit and are indexed by search engines, giving your content a longer life and more visibility.
• Creator Mode: Turn on Creator Mode to boost your visibility on the platform. This feature boosts your visibility in LinkedIn’s algorithm, making it easier for people to discover your content. It’s especially helpful if you regularly post updates, articles, or industry insights.
• Post regularly: Consistent posting helps build your network and keep you top-of-mind with your connections. Reshare content from your colleagues, partners, or other industry leaders, and add your perspective to foster conversation. Thoughtful comments on their posts show that you’re engaged and informed. This not only strengthens relationships but also helps you grow your network. Run polls, host LinkedIn Events, contribute to LinkedIn Collaborative Articles, publish a newsletter or become a LinkedIn Live Broadcaster; there are lots of ways to engage your audience.

Sharing your organisation’s events or reports in the Feature section of your profile can help to extend the reach of your content. You can also create and promote events directly through LinkedIn, maximising attendance and engagement by tapping into your network.

By using these features, LinkedIn can be more than just a static professional profile—it becomes a dynamic space where you can engage in real-time conversations, build thought leadership, and connect with others in your field. If you haven’t already, join LinkedIn for Nonprofits.

Using X (formerly Twitter) Effectively

X, still popularly known as Twitter, remains a go-to platform for real-time engagement and brief yet impactful communication. While LinkedIn tends to favour more in-depth posts and professional connections, X thrives on snappy, concise messaging and instant interactions.

Jaiye encouraged participants to make the most of X by repurposing content from LinkedIn. For example, longer LinkedIn posts can be condensed and edited to meet X’s 280-character limit. A good tip is to use reply threads—you can start with one tweet and continue adding connected thoughts, allowing you to share more detailed information over multiple posts. This keeps your content focused while avoiding overwhelming your audience with a single, long post.

Some best practices for using X include:

• Hashtags: Using hashtags on X is vital for increasing your post’s reach. Search for trending or relevant hashtags in your sector, like #WomensRights or #EconomicJustice, to amplify your message.
• Visual content: Posts with images, GIFs, and videos get higher engagement on X, similar to LinkedIn. Tools like Canva for Nonprofits make it easy to create short, attention-grabbing animations or graphics that can accompany your tweets.
• Replying & engaging: Building relationships is key on X. Retweeting and replying to posts from key influencers, partners, and organisations in your field is an effective way to increase your visibility and gain followers.
• Content sharing: Use Google Alerts to find content (use boolean search operators, e.g. "Economic Justice" AND women) and when you find valuable articles, reports, or other materials related to your work, share them on X. You can add a brief comment to the original post, which often encourages the poster to engage with you by liking, replying, or retweeting.

With X, the platform also allows you to track the performance of your posts with its analytics feature. You can see how many people are viewing and engaging with your content, which helps you fine-tune your social strategy over time.

Making Social Media Fun

Jaiye stressed that maintaining an online presence should be enjoyable. She suggested adding an element of fun, like creating weekly posting challenges, to keep the momentum going. Whether it’s sharing successes, commenting on others' posts, or resharing useful articles, these small actions build engagement over time.

What's Next?

If you’re looking for more guidance or missed the event, WRC offers personalised social media support sessions with Jaiye for Members and Non-Members to help you overcome challenges and build confidence. Book a one-on-one session today.

Check out WRC’s upcoming training and events for more bitesize learning opportunities.