Whilst in many cases it is very difficult to remove information that has been posted online and part one of ’Why your digital footprint should matter to you’ covers some of the things you can do to reduce the risk of your profile being hacked and used against you, it’s important to embrace your digital identity if you want to make the most of it.
Social media offers great opportunities to increase your profile as many employers now use it to find and screen new hires. A thoughtful and carefully curated digital footprint that highlights your skills and interests can help you stand out in a good way and play an important role in helping you find a job, therefore it’s essential you know how to use it to your advantage.
Using several reference sources, this post covers 8 ways in which, if applied in a consistent way will help you to improve your digital footprint, thereby raising your profile to support your career aspirations.
- Identify which platforms would work best for you
There are a number of different social media platforms that you could use, so be judicious in your selection and don’t just pick based on size, pick based on where you feel your target audience will be most active. The top 20 social media sites of 2022 based on Monthly Active Users (MAUs) can be found here:(https://buffer.com/library/social-media-sites/
- Create an appropriate profile and brand for the relevant platform
When creating your profiles, consider the feel and vibe of the platform and adjust the tone and content of your messaging to reflect that. For example, whilst the photos that you use need to convey a sense of professionalism, the one you have on Facebook, might be slightly more relaxed than the one you show on LinkedIn.
- Get and build meaningful connections
One of the quickest ways to raise your profile is by connecting to others but you don’t have to connect to everyone. Start with those that you know, have something in common with and build/rebuild relationships with them first as they may well be able to introduce you to others that you don’t know.
- Seek recommendations
If you are looking to get recommendations, be selective and directive – ask the right people and tell them what you want them to endorse. Generally, this is going to be a skill or knowledge that you enjoy, are good at and want to promote. This is a credibility issue not a popularity contest. Again, relevancy is the filter.
- Get involved
Your digital footprint should reflect the things that are important to you. To build this you need to read and comment on the blogs of experts in your field and be active on sites that are relevant to your profession or area of interest.
- Build your reputation through your behaviour
It’s not new advice but thinking carefully before sending or posting is one of the most important parts of looking after your digital footprint. Before posting or commenting, think about how does it support the image you want to portray – does it represent how you want others to perceive you?
- Optimize your content
You want to be found so the right people can connect with you when they’re searching for a product, service or answer to a question. To increase your chances, remember to use keywords in your content, write for people and focus on creating valuable, relevant, well-written content.
- Utilise video content
Videos are engaging, accessible and help you tell a story, and you can get creative with them and post them across your channels. In this way, you strengthen your online presence by reusing the same content on different platforms.
Whilst it might sound like a lot of work, just like anything, by having a strategy, breaking it down into bite size pieces, keeping at it and regularly reviewing every few months, it will help you raise your digital footprint to a positive one.
If you still find it all too daunting and are not sure where to start, the attached link provided by Buffer, will take you through to a free 15-Minute Social Media Audit Everyone Can Do. https://buffer.com/library/social-media-audit/
If you would like to find out more about this topic, contact us to book your free 90 minute personal 1:1 career consultation: