Creating social media profiles

How to build effective social media profiles that publicise your research

Publication details

Harzing, A.W. (2023) Creating social media profiles: Crafting your career in academia, Published by Tarma Software Research Ltd, London, United Kingdom.

  • Kindle edition, 160pp. ISBN 978-1-7396097-6-4.
    • $6.95,  Amazon US, £5.95  Amazon UK
    • also available on other national Amazon stores.
  • Black & white paperback, 128pp. ISBN 978-1-7396097-4-0.
    • $9.95,  Amazon US, £8.95  Amazon UK
    • also available on other national Amazon stores.
  • Black & white hardcover, 128pp. ISBN 978-17394538-1-7.
    • $22.95,  Amazon US, £17.95  Amazon UK
    • also available on other national Amazon stores.

Reviews

This is a fantastic book, one that I truly enjoyed reading. Professor Anne-Wil Harzing has done an excellent job in offering guidance to get into and make the best out of social media. The book is very well crafted – structured, straightforward, and easy to follow. The first chapter offers a primer on social media in academia, while the second chapter compares the key options. One then gets a good overview, with just the right amount of information, about Google Scholar, LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Twitter, and Blogging. The last chapter puts all of it together. Using examples throughout makes the book a truly enjoyable read. And, importantly, it prompts action! I very highly recommend the book! Snejina Michailova, Associate Dean Research, University of Auckland.

Whether you are a seasoned social media user or have never explored social media in a professional academic context, this book will certainly not disappoint. Covering several major platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter, the book provides numerous insights on how to create impact and gather support for positive change within the realm of online networking. What impressed me most about the book is the fact that the author's professional online profiles are a true testimony to everything covered in the book.

Anne-Wil Harzing, is certainly a social media expert who is a role model of navigating online media platforms, creating positive transformation in places all over the world. I strongly recommend this book as a tool to advance your career, create impact, build meaningful partnerships and expand your professional outreach via online engagement. Social networking should not be seen as superficial and time-consuming/wasting. Anne-Wil Harzing shows how a mindful and strategic online presence can be rewarding, impactful and truly transformative. I have no doubt that all academic colleagues will find this book immensely helpful in achieving their professional goals. Amazon Australia review.

Book description

Want to progress in academia? I provide you with practical, step-by-step guidance on creating academic social media profiles, leaving you better prepared to climb the academic career ladder. 

You will learn about the benefits and drawbacks of social media, and get familiar with Google Scholar Profiles, LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Twitter, and Blogging, discovering how to get the best out of these social media platforms. 

Using plenty of examples, this guide will help demystify social media in academia and provide you with the tools to be successful in your own social media efforts.

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Introduction

Most academics use some form of social media in their private lives. Personally, I have never been a fan of using social media for personal interactions; I seem to be one of a rapidly vanishing minority who do not have a Facebook, Instagram or TikTok account. In contrast, I have embraced social media in my professional life, and have now used it actively for 7-8 years.

I have also given quite a few presentations at Middlesex and other universities on the “how and why” of using social media to support your academic career. Moreover, I have run several hands-on “social media clinics” where I discuss the various social media options in detail and help academics to improve their own profiles. The presentations and notes for these clinics formed the basis for a blogpost series and this book.

In this book I will first provide a primer on social media in academia (Chapter 1) and compare the options (Chapter 2). Then I will provide tips for five key social media platforms: Google Scholar Profiles (Chapter 3), LinkedIn (Chapter 4), Research­Gate (Chapter 5), Twitter (Chapter 6), and Blogging (Chapter 7). Chapter 8 recaps the strengths of the five different platforms by considering two key use areas: the use of social media as a source of professional/academic information and the use of social media to share (news about) your research.

I hope this guide will demystify the topic of social media in academia and provide you with the tools to be successful in your social media efforts. I would love to hear from you if you feel this book has helped you.

Table of contents

Below is the chapter outline of the book. If you would like to know more about what is included, you can download a very detailed table of contents and the introduction to the book here.

  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: A primer on Social media in academia
  • Chapter 2: Comparing the key options
  • Chapter 3: Google Scholar Profiles
  • Chapter 4: LinkedIn Profile?
  • Chapter 5: ResearchGate
  • Chapter 6: Twitter
  • Chapter 7: Blogging
  • Chapter 8: Putting it all together
  • Conclusion
  • Further reading

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