Online branding is a brand management technique that uses the internet as a medium for positioning your unique brand in the marketplace. Website creation and optimization, social media, blogs, online press releases, and video marketing are all methods used for online branding purposes. One of the best ways to improve your online brand is by being active online – specifically in ways that focus on your professional arena. You can start by using search engines to explore and find news in your field. You can also dig deeper and find niche communities of your peers to connect to on social media sites like LinkedIn, Google+, and Facebook.
Once you have some professional places to hang out on the web it’s a good idea to start interacting with others on those sites on a regular basis. Make intelligent comments on blog posts, have discussions that are courteous, and always have a link back to your own blog under your name. Be the opposite of a troll. This gives you a wide audience of people who view you favorably and probably will be interested in visiting your blog to see if there is more good stuff to be found.
When they come to your blog, have some good stuff there. This isn’t as difficult as it sounds:
- link to content that you found helpful and make some comments then ask for opinions
- write a short (250-500 word) post every few days about something in your field
- have a mix of news items and evergreen content that is always useful
If you do a little bit every day, it slowly builds up into an impressive, authoritative presence that gives weight to your online brand. When potential employers look you up online, you look good and they feel impressed. Many people actually are hired based on internet activity that created a relationship and developed respect for the knowledge displayed. The job offer came as a result of the added authority of their online presence.
If you decide you need professional help for your online brand, we offer online branding/profile development coaching that just might be what you are looking for.
