Introduction
As an instructional designer (I.D.), you are responsible for creating, delivering, and evaluating learning experiences. Your job description is broad, but it can be difficult to find work if you don’t know how to market yourself. To break into the industry, you need experience and connections with other I.Ds who can help get you started in your career. Here are some tips on how to market yourself so that recruiters and hiring managers can find you.
Network with other I.Ds through social media.
One of the best ways to network with other I.Ds is through social media. You can find groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter that are specifically for I.Ds or design students in general. These groups provide an opportunity for you to interact with your peers and build relationships that could help advance your career as an I.D., such as job opportunities or freelance work opportunities down the road.
When joining these types of groups, look at what other members have posted about themselves so far–if they’re all from one specific city/state/country, then it might not be worth joining because there won’t be much cross-pollination between different regions (which may not be beneficial). If however many people seem like they live all over the place and have diverse backgrounds/experiences like yours does too then go ahead!
Publish your work in instructional design blogs and magazines.
Publishing your work in instructional design blogs and magazines can help you build credibility and establish yourself as an expert. You can publish your work on your own blog, or you can submit it to a magazine.
You should also consider publishing your work in a book. Books are generally more academically credible than articles, so they’re perfect for establishing yourself as an expert in the field of instructional design–and they’re great marketing tools!
Create a portfolio on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is an essential tool for any I.D., and it’s an ideal place to showcase your skills and experience. To create your profile, visit [link]https://www.linkedin.com/profile/. You’ll be prompted to enter information about yourself: name, email address, phone number, current position, and industry.
Once that’s done, you can add more details about yourself by clicking on “Edit” under each category (for example “Work Experience”). This will give you the option of adding schools attended as well as previous employers–and even previous projects! If you’ve worked on anything interesting or noteworthy in school or during internships or summer jobs (or even just something fun), this is where we recommend listing it out so people have an idea of what kind of work ethic you have when it comes down to getting things done properly under pressure conditions.”
Write a blog to highlight your experience, share ideas and information and build credibility.
A blog is a great way to share your knowledge and expertise.
A blog is a great way to build your credibility.
A blog is a great way to network with others in your field.
If you’re an I.D., you can use a blog as a platform for promoting yourself as an expert on identity management issues–and get paid for it!
Attend conferences that focus on instructional design, eLearning, and technology.
You can learn a lot at these types of conferences. You’ll meet other I.Ds and get to know them better. You will also be able to network with others in your field and discuss trends in the industry. These events are a great way for you to learn new things about instructional design or technology that can help improve your work quality as well as marketability as an I.D., especially if you haven’t been exposed much yet!
Join or start an online community of instructional designers or eLearning professionals.
There are many ways to make this happen, but here are a few suggestions:
Join or start a LinkedIn group.
It’s easy to do, and there are plenty out there already. You can even search for “I.D.” in the Groups field on your LinkedIn profile page to find them easily. If you don’t see one that fits your needs, consider starting one yourself!
Join or start an online community on Slack.
(or another platform). This can be particularly useful if you work remotely from home because it allows members from all over the world to connect with each other easily–and stay connected throughout the day without having constant meetings, which can take valuable time away from actual production.
Participate in webinars, podcasts, or virtual presentations where you can interact with others in your field.
You can find webinars on a variety of topics by searching for your field and “webinar.” For example, if you wanted to learn more about how to market yourself as an I.D., then search for “information design” + “webinar.” You might be surprised by how many options there are! You might also want to start your own webinar series – it’s not that difficult and it’s a great way for people who have similar interests as yours to connect with each other.
You can market yourself as an I.D. by networking and sharing your knowledge with others.
Networking is a great way to market yourself as an I.D.
Networking is a way to share knowledge and build relationships with others who are interested in the same things as you.
Networking can help you find jobs, clients, and collaborators for your work!
Conclusion
The world of instructional design is a big one, and there are many ways to get involved. If you’re looking for ways to market yourself as an I.D., this article should have given you some good starting points. We hope that our tips will help you get started on your own marketing plan!