Five steps to build a credible professional brand online: establish authorship with original content, complete your LinkedIn and Google+ profiles, join relevant groups, listen to your audience before sharing, and focus on engagement quality over follower count.
Social media guidelines for professionals. The continued growth of social media provides a great opportunity to establish your personal brand. For example, with employers increasingly turning to social media sites to find professionals to hire, what would they learn about you? Could they find your professional credentials? Social networking platforms make establishing your online identity easier than ever. Caution should be taken, however, for professionals to establish a credible online reputation. The following guidelines will help. 1, build authorship. In a digital world where content is still king, establishing your content authorship is vital to gathering evidence on your expertise. Linking your content to your social media profiles is a great way to build your professional credibility. 2. Be found in the right places. Social networks such as LinkedIn and Google+ have been built with the professional in mind and so are ideal for establishing your professional credentials. Take time to set up your profile, including qualifications, experience, and an appropriate profile picture. 3. Time to network. Networking online is not that different from meeting and connecting with people offline. Join online groups with the intention of participating and connecting with like-minded professionals. 4. Listen and share, but keep listening. As with any conversation, take time to find out what people are saying before joining in, then share your expertise in a tasteful manner without causing offense. Listening will enable you to share content that resonates with your target audience. 5. Quality over quantity. Finally, don't measure effectiveness by number of connections or followers. Instead, look at how many times your content is shared, liked, or retweeted. The best gauge ultimately is the quality of your interaction with fellow professionals. In conclusion, social media offers a great opportunity to establish your personal brand and highlight your professional credentials and expertise. Using social networks like LinkedIn and Google+ will allow you to create a well-defined brand, One that you can build into an asset that will pay dividends over a lifetime. If you would like help to improve your social media presence, get in touch.
