4 Ways to Build an Online Profile That Opens The Door to New Opportunities
What’s the first thing you do when you meet someone new? You search for them online. You may look at their LinkedIn profile, their website or blog and maybe even their Facebook profile and Twitter account.
If you want to be seen in a certain light or position yourself as an industry expert and professional businesswoman, building a strong online profile is the best way to achieve this.
When building your online profile you should consider the following:
Personal branding
The key to creating an online profile that has the power to influence people is to develop and communicate a consistent personal brand across all your platforms. This unified brand is what will help you stand out.
Take some time to consider what it is you want to be known and respected for. Also think about the things that are unique and memorable about you. We are all unique and have our points of difference. Remember, people connect and buy emotionally, so there needs to be an emotional element.
The right online platforms
Deciding what type of platforms you will use to profile yourself is critical and will depend largely on your target audience, how they like to receive information and where they spend time online. With so many options to choose from, it’s also a good idea to initially focus on one or two platforms before expanding to others.
Connect with online influencers
Seek out people in your industry with developed online profiles and large followings and connect with them. Share their content, comment on their posts and maybe even send them a message from time to time. The benefits of this are twofold. Not only do you build meaningful relationships with people that are well connected, your visibility also grows.
Share value
By far the most important element of building an online profile is sharing. What works – and can have a lasting and positive impact – is building relationships. This involves sharing valuable information that the people you want to influence will benefit from. It’s a ‘them-first’ approach that also puts you in a position of being the expert.
An online profile that is authentic, consistent and highlights your area on expertise can be extremely powerful in establishing yourself as a recognised expert. By being conscious about what and how you share information online, you can build a profile that helps you attract new business opportunities and be seen as a leader in your field.
To help you perfect your profile-building skills, as a special gift, WNA blog readers can download my Personal Branding Action Sheet for FREE! Download yours now!