The internet plays an essential role in both your professional and personal life. On the one hand, you can use it to meet new people or to stay in touch with friends and family living far away. On the other hand, you can rely on it to find a new job, grow your business, or turn your side hustle into a full-time gig. But when it comes to your professional life, you should be extra careful. Because if you don’t manage and protect your digital reputation properly, you risk losing a lot. So, here are some of the best practices for managing your professional online presence.
Understanding the concept
Before going into further details, you should first understand the concept of online presence management. Namely, it involves ensuring a positive online reputation. This applies to both individuals and companies.
On the one hand, a good online reputation can help a business thrive by building customer trust and loyalty. On the other hand, it can help individuals get a job. Because no matter how much you invest in education and improve your skills, it’s not enough to succeed. Nowadays, employers also factor in a candidate’s online presence when it comes to hiring them.
No. 1 One of the best practices for managing your professional online presence is to search your name
This might come as a surprise, but you don’t need to be famous for people to find you on Google. We all leave a digital footprint. Therefore, you should Google your full name to see what’s out there. This way, you’ll know what potential employers can find out about you. You’re safe if you have a very common name or can’t find any information online. Because having no online presence is much better than having a negative one.
The same thing goes if you own a company. By doing a Google search, you’ll be able to determine if your business is visible online. Furthermore, this will enable you to view things from the client’s perspective. If you have a hard time finding information about your company, then you’re in trouble. So, it’s time to find new ways to grow your business through digital marketing.
No. 2 Try to eliminate harmful content
If you identify negative content when you Google your name, you should try to eliminate it. Remove any posts or tags that can damage your reputation. You should also review your social media privacy settings to prevent people from posting damaging content on your profiles. This also applies if you’re a business owner. However, in this case, you might have less control over what people share about your company.
No. 3 Manage your social media profiles
Being active on social media can improve your professional online presence. However, you should maintain a balance between your professional and personal life. It’s not enough to have a professional LinkedIn account. You also have to be careful what you post on your other social media profiles, such as Facebook and Instagram. Try to avoid sharing religious, political, or stupid content that can ruin your reputation.
Now, if you’re trying to promote your business on social media, staying active is key. So, no matter how busy you are, you should make time to post regularly. Nevertheless, what you post is equally important. Quality is crucial if you want to attract clients. Focus on including positive client testimonials, employee spotlights, discount offers, links to helpful and relevant articles, as well funny industry videos.
No. 4 Create quality content
One of the best practices for managing your professional online presence is to create quality content. Both individuals and companies can benefit from blogging. If the content is valuable and engaging, it can help build a positive digital reputation. Not to mention that a high volume of quality content can make people overlook some of the negative content. Moreover, this can help improve your SEO ranking.
No. 5 Assess your website
As an individual, you don’t necessarily need a website to improve your professional online presence. However, you can create one to showcase your work and skills. For instance, if you’re researching the best Southern California cities for job opportunities, you’ll discover some great places in the state. Nevertheless, the competition is fierce. Therefore, a great website might help you stand out and make a good first impression.
But as a company, you can’t survive without a website. This is what best reflects your brand’s image. Therefore, you should carefully assess your website to ensure it works properly, is appealing, and engages clients. Focus on great web design, SEO, relevant content, and clear call-to-action. All these things will attract clients and help your business thrive.
No. 6 Don’t overlook virtual events
If you’re a business owner, you can manage your online presence by hosting virtual events. This is a great way to keep your audience engaged. For example, you can host relevant and useful webinars. Just make sure you use the right software to ensure a great experience.
As an individual, you can manage your online presence by attending virtual events. You can find many virtual conferences and working spaces online. This is a great way to meet people in your industry and make yourself visible to them. As a result, you might even receive some job proposals. Not to mention that you can learn a lot from attending such events. You can further develop your skills and even acquire new ones.
Final thoughts
In this day and age, your digital reputation is very important. On the one hand, as an individual, having a great CV is no longer enough to get your dream job or further your career. Because employers also analyze your professional online presence when considering you for a job. On the other hand, as a business owner, having a negative digital reputation can kill your business. After all, clients are no longer interested only in what you’re selling but also in what values you promote. As a result, you should use these best practices for managing your professional online presence because they are the key to your success.
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