8 Tips for Building An Online Presence

In this day and age, there are very few jobs that don't require internet expertise. For that reason, it should come as no surprise that having an online presence is more important than ever. A prospective employer will judge you on your online presence, so it's important to make sure you've done your best to have appealing social media, web pages, and more. If you don't know much about having an online presence, follow these tips and you can stand out in-person and online.

1. Optimize Your Content

When an employer gets your application, one of the first things they may do is to search your name on the internet. There's a lot you can find out about someone on the internet, and a quick Google search is one of the easiest ways to get information.

Prospective employers won't only search for your name. They also may search for certain skills, titles, or certifications. When they do their search, employers will use a few keywords. Think about what keywords they might search for, and try to rank for them.

Ranking for keywords isn't as difficult as you might imagine. When you're writing content for a personal website, blog, or social media, use your keywords. Do some research on search engine optimization and use that knowledge to make your content rank well in online searches. If your content doesn't show up on the first page, it is likely to be ignored. Consider doing all of the following:

Creating content that has value
Linking to authority pages in your content
Make a website with your name in the domain
Don't use your keywords too frequently

2. Show That You're an Expert

During the hiring process, an employer looks for someone who is an expert in their industry. When you're building your online presence, take some steps to show that you're an expert in the field.

Before you begin, think about what potential employers want to know about your expertise. For instance, you might want them to know that you have experience working with a specific program. Or, you may want them to know that you have experience working in a certain area of an industry.

Use your past jobs to highlight your expertise. Instead of speaking in general terms, use words that are specific to your experience.

3. Educate Others

By showing that you actively educate others, you're also showing employers that you are an authority in your field. Fortunately, the internet makes it easy to be an educator.

To get started, think about the strengths you want to showcase. Then, consider what type of content would allow you to highlight those strengths. You can educate others through blogs, ebooks, and online courses. You can find resources online that teach you how to make effective educational content.

Although it takes time to create educational content, the work is worth the rewards. You can make yourself stand out from the competition. By being an educator, you show your passion for your industry. You also show that you're an effective communicator. As an added benefit, you might be able to charge people for your educational resources.

4. Join Professional Organizations

All industries have professional networks and organizations. If you want to have a better online presence, join some professional organizations. Some employers may even consider a membership as a requirement.

That said, you need to do more than just join the organizations. You need to be engaging by attending events and socializing with members. Interact on forums and social media in a professional manner, and you can make your online presence known.

A prospective employer wants to know that you have ideas. If you're too uninvolved online, they might be concerned that you do the same in the workplace. By interacting, you show prospective employers that you're an asset.

5. Connect with Others

Outside of your professional organization, you should do some networking. Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career. Then, comment in those groups. Respond to questions and share your experiences. Look for questions in Quora and answer them in an authoritative manner.

When you write your responses, focus on creating high-quality content. Even if you give a great answer, it will mean nothing if you have spelling or grammar errors. Rather than rush through your writing, take the time to craft and edit it.

6. Make Your Website

If you don't already have a professional website, it's time to create one. Your website should be a place for employers to learn more about you, your career, and your skills.

You don't need to be a web designer to create an impressive website. There are several platforms that allow you to build your own website with premade templates. In fact, the only thing you need to worry about is picking a domain name and creating the content.

As you build your website, think of what you want to highlight. If applicable, have examples of your work. Look at the websites of colleagues or friends to get ideas of what you should include.

Are some of your social profiles incomplete? If so, you're missing an opportunity to improve your online presence. Go to all of your social media accounts and fill in the missing pieces.

On Facebook, the "About" section is often missed. Write more information regarding your hobbies or any other details that you want the world to know. Your Twitter bio session should also be complete. In your bio, be sure to include a link to your website or portfolio.

LinkedIn is perhaps your most important resource. Spend the most time filling out your LinkedIn, checking that each section has enough detail. After you're done, proofread your work.

8. Ask for Help

When all else fails, ask for help. Find a mentor or ask a friend for advice. If you don't have anyone to ask, do some research. Do an internet search for someone in your career and compare the results to your online presence. You might be able to pick up a few tricks.