Whatever your business, product, or service, credibility is key. It’s also true with your personal reputation. On that note, the information that appears, or doesn’t appear, whenever your name is searched on the Internet is a litmus test of your personal and professional credibility. It’s called G-cred.
To help with that G-cred, here are 9 things you can do:
1.) A maxed-out LinkedIn profile: Lots of folks have a LinkedIn profile, but few have a LinkedIn profile that’s fully completed for maximum impact. Is yours?
- Don’t just have a short job title, tell folks as much as possible in that title space. The more key words, the better.
- Have a bunch of recommendations? No? Then here’s a tip: If you want more recommendations, try giving some.
- Be sure you include all your website links and a Twitter feed.
- Is your profile Summary awesome? Is it filled with juicy keywords?
- Got videos or SlideShare presentations? Add them with the SlideShare app.
- If you want you can even display your reading list.
- Lastly, be sure your latest blog posts and Tweets are being displayed in your LinkedIn update feed.
A LinkedIn profile is usually one of the first things that comes up in an Internet search. Be sure you have a great one.
2.) A blog: It’s easier than ever to create a blog. Not only will it help with G-cred, it’ll help position you and your business as a leader in your field.
3.) A great Facebook business page: Your business won’t be taken seriously without one. It will also allow you to leverage the many social media benefits within the Facebook ecosystem.
4.) A great website: Nothing new about this.
5.) Articles: For the same reasons that a blog is good, published articles highlight your expertise. E-Zine Articles is one place to submit them.
6.) Videos: Studies continue show that video use is growing In fact, a recent Cisco study says, “video currently represents a quarter of the web’s traffic, but could be as high as 90% in only three years’ time.” Enough said.
7.) Slideshare presentations: Slideshare allows you to convert your PowerPoint presentations into an online post. And, it’s free. How cool is that?
8.) Interviews & press: Nothing helps your online cred better that third party endorsement. So, seek out every opportunity for it and, if you get some, be sure you have it posted.
9.) A great email signature: To be taken seriously all professionals should set up a professional email signature including relevant links to your site, LinkedIn profile, Twitter profile, etc. If you don’t have one, it’s an easy thing to set up.
While most of these can be done by yourself, some will definitely benefit from the perspective and active support of a marketing professional. So, don’t hesitate to ask for that help.
After all, there’s nothing more important than your professional credibility and if you don’t have Google credibility, you don’t have credibility.
Internet Search Photo via Shutterstock
And you shouldn’t get overwhelmed by all of them. Your website can play host to your blog, video, embedded Slideshare presentations and cross-promote your LinkedIn and Facebook pages. Great advice John!
Agree with Robert. Let your website play host to as many of those as possible and you’ll build a strong presence online. Also, good call on #9, because not enough small business professionals have a quality sig.
Good tips John. One question I have is why did you say that you will not be taken seriously if you do not have a Facebook page.
By more and more people will not take your business seriously if it doesn’t have a Facebook page because of how important Facebook has become as place for doing business, especially as social media gets taken more seriously.
One part of the marketing homework I gave to beekeeping students, was to do a EGO search on their personal name, company name and a competitor, and then describe what kind of picture they got. I bet that many of the students will get an aha moment! The buzz will spread… 😉
I really don’t believe that you need to saturate social media with your business – running with too many of these applications is, IMHO, giving the message that you spend more time playing around online than you do refining your business!
Furthermore, where do you draw the line? Google+ PInterest? What’s just around the corner?
Good point. It’s key to select the few that best serve your business and use them with maximum efficiently 🙂
Great post, John. I agree that Google touches almost all online activity so you need great online reputation through Google – and SEO is very helpful you actually ‘get found’. Following your advice of having a great presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, your own website and having published works along with the rest of your suggestions – all that will help with ‘getting found’. Using an expert in SEO wil help put it all together. I have included your post in ‘Best of the Web’ so your great content can be seen by a wider audience. Thank you.
Thanks, Yoav.
Thanks!