We don't have to explain to you that personal branding is important. In a hyper-competitive labor market, it is crucial to stick your head above the parapet. We already wrote one at the beginning of 2016 article about Donald Trump's rock-solid personal brand. Today we delve further into depth with a translation of personal branding on social media. We share concrete tips for working on your personal brand via LinkedIn and Facebook.
Work and LinkedIn
Ever since the inception of social media LinkedIn is the channel for business use. Many companies, including Facebook, have tried to compete, but for now LinkedIn is the market leader. Setting up and managing a solid profile on LinkedIn can help you enormously with your personal profiling. If you do not have a profile yet or you are not sure that your profile is optimally set up, please read the tips below!
Improve your profile's SEO
LinkedIn is indexed by Google from A to Z. In order to be optimally found by Google, it is therefore important to set up your profile as completely as possible. Let words for which you want to be searched, such as your skills and titles, regularly appear on your profile, so that your LinkedIn profile quickly comes to the fore.
Your profile photo makes the difference
It seems like a no-brainer, but all too often goes wrong. The first thing people look at when they see a LinkedIn profile is the photo. If you use a blurry, boring or too small photo you will quickly be passed over. Have a professional photographer take a small series of photos of you in a light, colorful or striking environment. And, remember, it's OK to laugh...it's not a mugshot.
The summary is your elevator pitch, use that!
Very few people complete the summary of their profile. A shame, because in addition to helping you be found in Google, it is also the perfect place to explain to your audience in short sentences or paragraphs who you are, what you do and why your profile is so interesting.
Collect recommendations
For a few years now you have been able to get recommendations from others on LinkedIn. Actually a form of reviews, but about yourself! Recommendations make your profile a lot more powerful. The confidence of your future employer or recruiter will increase. So take the plunge and dare to ask satisfied customers or employers for a recommendation. Or give a recommendation to a colleague, chances are he or she will also have a good word for you.
Add skills
You can choose to display your specific skills on your profile on LinkedIn. You must add these skills yourself under the Skills section, after which you can invite your network to support or 'endorse' these skills. This will further highlight your skills, so that your personal brand will immediately be in a better position.
Share your knowledge in blogs and presentations
LinkedIn offers professionals the opportunity to show themselves outside their profile. For some time now, you have been able to publish your own blogs on the platform. A functionality that is being used more and more. Such blogs are often distributed through your network and reach a large and relevant business audience. Show your knowledge!
Although LinkedIn is still the lord and master in the field of business social networking, the role of Facebook is increasing. Facebook is no longer a channel where you are only present in private. The rise of company pages has ensured that more and more professionals find the channel to present themselves to the outside world.
Choose a business profile
If you wish to be active on Facebook for business purposes, it is best to do so via a separate business profile. This way you can keep your friends separate from your business followers. Set up a business profile for your person or company and provide relevant content. However, always try to take a personal approach, after all it is a 'social' network.
Use link posts
On Facebook you can post links, so-called link posts. As soon as you put them online, these posts form a link to an external website, for example your blog, website or LinkedIn. Unlike LinkedIn, it is not recommended to share long texts (such as blog articles) on Facebook. It is better to use a link post to attract interested people to your website or blog.
Use the paid options
One of Facebook's strongest points is the ability to pay for your content through advertisements. The targeting options are phenomenal. Consider targeting based on location, demographic data, interests or behavior.
You can also advertise on LinkedIn, but this is relatively expensive compared to Facebook. Do you want to approach people with a specific education, job, or interest? Which can. With a few tens of euros you can create a lot of reach, and there is no minimum investment threshold. So you can start right away.
Have you already used social media for personal branding, and have you had success with it? Share your story with our other readers and inspire those around you.