These days, everyone is connected — seemingly at all times. For dental assistants, this is especially true: after working with patients in person all day, many go online in the evening to keep up with personal messages and interests. Online networks can be a great tool to build and maintain both personal and professional relationships.
This summer, the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) joined Web 2.0 and launched its own social media presence. You can now connect with DANB on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube — and everyone is invited to follow along and join the conversation!
To connect with DANB, visit us on:
When engaging on social media, it’s important to keep in mind how you are presenting yourself. Here are a few tips for keeping a professional online presence and putting your best self forward.
DANB’s Top 10 Social Media Tips
- “Like” or “follow” DANB on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
- Share or comment on any posts that catch your interest!
- Check your privacy settings on personal accounts to be sure your information is only being shared with your friends and networks. Remember that even things you post to “friends only” could end up being shared or seen by others.
- Remove any negative posts or pictures that you may have posted in the past.
- Never post or write anything online that you would not want an employer or potential employer to see.
- Be sure to always use respectful and considerate language.
- Highlight your achievements, such as winning an award or earning a new certification. These are the fun and positive things that are great to share!
- Monitor your own pages. If a friend or family member posts something on your page that you think is inappropriate, you may want to remove it so it doesn’t reflect negatively on you.
- Google yourself! You may be surprised at what comes up — and what you may want to make private or remove.
- Choose profile pictures wisely. These can be seen by anybody, even if your profile is private. So be sure to select a photo that puts your best face forward!
And of course, remember to verify your workplace rules for checking your personal phone, tablet or computer during work hours. DANB looks forward to hearing from you at any time of the day!
