Social Media has opened up a whole new world for expats, enabling them to stay connected to their family and friends back in their home country as well as helping them to connect with new friends and people who share similar interests in their new country. Here is a quick guide as to how you can make social media work for you as part of your expat life:
Social Media guide for expats
Facebook was started as a medium to help close friends and family stay in touch, since then it has evolved substantially – becoming an invaluable source of information for people who use it as a search tool helping them access information that is relevant to their country and area. Here are some ways you can use Facebook as an expat:
- Country Groups: Just enter the words expat and the country you are moving to, or living in into the search bar, and a whole list of country groups will come up. These groups often contain valuable information for expats moving to a country and are an ideal way to share questions and receive answers from people who have been through what you are experiencing.
- Job Boards: You’ll be surprised to discover how many companies use Facebook as a recruitment tool. Search for your profession and join groups that are specifically targeted for job searches. You can even apply for jobs directly on Facebook or proactively reach out and connect with a company that you are interested in.
- Renting Groups: There are many property groups on Facebook where rentals and even properties for sale are advertised.
- Local Events: Facebook is a great place to find local events taking place in your area. You can even create an event of your own if you want to arrange a meetup for expats in your area.
LinkedIn is internationally regarded as one of the best ways to search for jobs. You can begin your search before you leave and connect with recruiters advertising positions. Another thing to do before leaving, or once you have arrived, is to proactively link up with people in your new country that can help you find employment or assist you with finding a rental or property to buy. Search your existing network – and see if any of the people you are currently linked to contacts in your new country. LinkedIn is also a valuable source of information and features a multitude of articles written by experts in their field. Use the search function to find what you are looking for.
Instagram is an ideal social media platform if you are moving to Singapore or the Far East where it is very popular. Over 60% of Singaporeans use Instagram and in Indonesia it is the largest market for the Asia Pacific region with 45 million users. Instagram is more of a visual medium – but just enter the word expats and you will be able to follow other expats in your area and connect with local events that are taking place.
Pinterest is another platform that continues to grow and according to research hit 10 million monthly unique visitors faster than any independent site in history. Pinterest is particularly big in Asia and is regarded as an important platform for businesses to engage potential customers. The site also attracts millions of daily users in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Search it to connect with and follow people who have similar interests to you in your new country. Here you’ll discover recipes that feature the local cuisine, relevant local trends and much, much more.
If you are a South African living abroad and would like to know more about how you can maximise your finances through financial emigration, accessing your South African retirement annuity abroad and our tailor-made tax solutions for South Africans around the world, contact FinGlobal today. And yes, FinGlobal is visible on each of the mentioned social media platforms!
Where to find us, your financial emigration specialists on social media
If you’re looking at staying up to date with the latest news and trends around financial emigration from South Africa, be sure to follow FinGlobal on our various social media channels :