4 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand
Regardless of whether you’re a business owner, employee or on the hunt for new work, developing a professional personal brand on and offline is a great way to establish authority and credibility within your industry.
So how can you build your personal brand, in order to showcase the best 'you' possible? Here are 4 places to start.
1. Audit your online presence:
Do a quick google search on your name. Are you happy for a potential client or employer to see those search results?
One of the simplest and easiest ways to start creating a professional personal brand is to audit your online presence. That means going through all your social media channels and removing any unprofessional images or content so you can put your best foot forward! Yes - that means deleting those party pics from your high school days. Make sure you use a professional profile picture and only post content you’d be happy for a client or potential employer to view.
(If you're not quite ready to remove your historical happy snaps, you can always set these particular social media profiles to private. Just be careful when accepting friend requests from co-workers or industry peers.)
2. Create a LinkedIn profile:
After you’ve audited your existing online presence, the next step is to create a LinkedIn profile - if you don’t already have one. LinkedIn is a great way to showcase your experience and skills, search for jobs, seek new business opportunities and network with likeminded industry professionals.
It’s important that you create a standout profile that will draw the attention of potential clients, customers or employers. Here’s how!
3. Secure a personal website:
If you really want to stand out from the crowd, why not create your very own personal website? Having a personal website is one of the best ways to increase your name ranking on Google and provide a professional hub where you can present your experience, skills and expertise in your field. Don't worry, your website doesn’t have to be extensive, it just needs to showcase your resume, some great blog posts, an 'about' section and contact information.
4. Add some value:
In order to separate yourself from your competitors and present yourself as an authority in your industry, it’s always important to provide value to those you connect with. A good way to do this could be by writing a blog on your personal website, adding some great tips and tricks to your social media posts, or offering to help out a new connection to make a lasting impression.
Do you need help showcasing your personal brand online? Here at Melbourne Social Co we are experts at getting your brand “out there!”
Contact us now for more information.
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
Five Tips For Networking Success
Whether we like it or not, an essential part of our careers is networking, as it’s a vital way to meet new customers/clients, share new ideas, drive word-of-mouth recommendations and perhaps make some great new likeminded friends!
If you’re unsure of how to nail your next networking event or meeting, read on below for our top tips.
Be prepared:
Whether you’re about to walk into a meeting with potential clients or attending an event, make sure you are prepared! Being prepared means thinking of some great conversation starters or questions and determining what your “elevator pitch” is. An elevator pitch is your chance to explain who you are, what you do and what you are passionate about in around 30 seconds. The trick is to practice this pitch so you capture your audience’s attention and entice them to stick around and continue to talk to you.
Other ways to be prepared include planning the right outfit ahead of time, figuring out how to get there, and making sure you get to the meeting or event early so you're not feeling rushed or stressed out when you arrive.
Be friendly and conversational:
Coming across friendly and approachable will go a long way in helping you to meet new people and make great connections. This means being aware of your body language, your tone of voice, the way you speak and make sure it is coming across as approachable and relaxed as possible.
Ask questions:
For those of you who don’t like to talk to much (and for everyone else as well!) make sure you ask questions. Asking questions is a great way to learn more about other people and to become inspired by other’s passions, skills and experience.
Share your passion:
Everyone has a story, but what captures people’s attention is when you share your unique selling point. What is it about you that makes you stand out from the crowd? Usually that will be what you are passionate about, the very thing that makes you tick! Sharing your passions is a great way to win people over with your enthusiasm and make a lasting impression.
Follow-up:
Now that you’ve done a great job at networking, remember to follow up. Ensure that you exchange business cards, or connect via social media so you can continue the conversation and make lasting friendships or business relationships. LinkedIn is a great platform for keeping in touch with likeminded professionals or potential customers/clients so don’t be afraid to add your new connections. As a general rule, it’s best to follow up within 2 days of meeting the person so that you're fresh in their minds.
Do you need help getting your personal brand or business out there? Your digital marketing experts Melbourne Social Co can help!
Get in touch with us now to find out more:
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
Easy Ways to Leverage Your LinkedIn Account
One of the most popular social media platforms for business professionals is LinkedIn, as it’s a great way to showcase your experience and skills, search for jobs, seek new business opportunities and network with likeminded industry professionals.
If you have a LinkedIn account or are looking to create one, try these easy ways to leverage your profile now:
Raise your profile:
Your profile is at the centre of all the activity you do on LinkedIn so it’s vital to make sure it represents who you are and your experience in the best way possible. From using a professional photo, to creating an engaging and captivating summary and adding detailed experience sections, it’s important to dedicate some time to creating the best LinkedIn profile you possibly can.
Unsure how to raise your profile? Read our checklist for creating a standout LinkedIn profile.
Get recommendations:
A great way to make sure your LinkedIn profile stands out from the crowd is by utilising recommendations. These could be from customers, clients or past and current employers. Recommendations help to enhance your professional credibility and give your profile a point of difference.
Network!
LinkedIn is a social media platform after all, so make sure you network and connect with likeminded industry professionals that could even become potential clients or customers. You’ll be amazed at the people you’ll find on LinkedIn so don’t be afraid to connect with other industry professionals and join relevant industry groups.
Create a company page:
LinkedIn is one of the top social media marketing platforms for business to business marketing, so if you own a business you need to make sure your company has a page. Having a company page is a great way to share relevant news and updates on your business, provide useful information about your services or product and increase brand awareness through posting regular updates.
Post updates:
Regardless of your reason for being on LinkedIn, posting updates to your network helps to put your personal profile in front of the right people. By sharing relevant articles or even commenting on and liking other people’s updates, you can get your name out there, showcase your expertise in your field and be found by potential clients or customers (or employers!)
Do you need help leveraging your LinkedIn account to attract new clients or business? Here at Melbourne Social Co we are experts at creating and managing professional social media profiles.
Get in touch with us today to find out more:
e: [email protected] – P: 1300 386 165
5 Signs You’re Addicted To Social Media
Here at Melbourne Social Co we are big lovers of social media, however we understand that sometimes it can be a little hard to switch off.
If you are like us and are constantly glued to your phone, you might have a social media addiction! Read on below for 5 telltale signs.
- It’s the first thing you look at in the morning and the last thing you look at before you go to sleep:
One of the biggest signs you may be a little too dependent on social media is if you reach for your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts before you even hop out of bed in the morning. This is equally as true if you scroll through your feeds before drifting off to sleep every night instead of reading a book or spending time with your partner and family.
- You check it constantly:
According to a study from the PRIA, 13 million Australians are spending 18 hours a day on social media and are logging on to check every five minutes! If you are nodding in agreement that this sounds a little like you (or are questioning how people even last five minutes) then maybe you need to scale it back a bit. Our tip? Allocate a few blocks throughout the day not to check your phone, including at meal times or when talking with friends and family.
- You post and share EVERYTHING:
We all have those friends and family members who take to Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat to post hourly updates on their lives. If this sounds like something you do – why not use that time updating your status to catch up with friends or family face-to-face to share your good news.
- It’s your first choice of recreation:
Have a spare few minutes in your day? Do you check social media? This is a big sign you love it a bit too much… Instead take use your precious spare time to read a book, go for a run or spend time with loved ones.
- You have trouble switching off:
Can you last a whole day or even a few hours without logging onto your favourite networks? If you can’t leave your phone in the other room for fear of missing a notification or new update than you are probably addicted.
- Switch off and let us take care of things for you
Okay by now you may have realised your way spending too much of your day on social media. Here at Melbourne Social Co, we understand the 'round-the-clock' pressures of managing a digital marketing campaign for your business, and are here to take some of the load off you! If you're after some advice, strategy or amazing digital marketing content for your business or personal brand, feel free to get in touch today.
Contact us: [email protected]