3 Tips To Building A Positive Online Presence

3 Tips To Building A Positive Online Presence

We live in an age defined by inter-connectedness, where our online persona is becoming increasingly important to not only our social life, but also our career. More employers are beginning to value the importance of evaluating candidates’ credentials not solely based on their resume and interview performance, but also based on their image online. If done well, a positive online presence can boost your personal brand and increase the odds of employment.

Thus, it is vital to build a positive online presence. After all, it’s all about first creating your brand and then promoting it.

In today’s personal branding workshop for Nanyang Technological University (NTU) undergraduates, I shared many strategies. Out of all these strategies, there are 3 I deem the most powerful. Here are the 3 powerful tips which you can immediately put into practice.

 

Tip #1: Be Congruent

Your online presence should be seen as another form of a resume, offering a personal touch that potential employers might value. Thus, it is important to present a positive image, and be consistent with what you are presenting. Contradicting material will lead employers to question the reliability of this online persona you have crafted.

Being congruent also emphasises the message, making it almost synonymous with your name. If portrayed in a positive light, this can greatly increase your desirability as a potential employee. Remember, your words and actions have to be consistent.

 

Tip #2: Post Regularly 

It is crucial to first establish presence online before that presence can be of any help. Social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat all operate on the theory of providing updates in a chronological order as they are posted. While it is important that your posts be of quality, quantity too plays a key role in making sure your posts are not in the shadow of others.

Scheduling your posts properly will be vital to ensure you have a constant stream of quality posts. Since most people will not have happenings to post about everyday, space out your posts to keep them regular. Thrice a week will be good. Posting regularly allows people to interact with your posts, comment and also share if they connect with it.

Besides posting on your own social media accounts, you should also actively post on business and personal profile sites. You want to be selective on where you post and what you post so as to be taken seriously. This also opens opportunities for you to network with people from all over the world. 

 

Tip #3: Keep Your Profile Current

Choose a maximum of three social media networking sites and then take time to maintain them. Imagine if a headhunter or recruiter stumbles upon your online profile, views it and realizes you haven’t updated it in the last four years. Keep your profile current by updating it consistently. If you have had a new internship experience or played a new sport, include that. If you have graduated or embarked on part-time employment, add those in too. 

In recent years, social networking sites have evolved to become tools for employers to assess a potential employee based on their personal interactions, making it crucial that you present a good image. Leveraging on social networking sites to build a positive online presence can help you stand out in the pool of potential candidates.