The final part of the multi-part series on setting yourself up for success as a working mom is all about your online persona. When did you last make any changes or update your social media accounts and profiles? Is it time to make some changes?
As we start the new school year it’s a perfect time to see if you need to make changes to your online presence, especially if you’re interested in making career changes once kids are back in school. It’s especially important as you try to focus more energy on networking.
Your Personal Brand
For this blog, I’m sharing a bit about my own personal branding approach and putting on my marketing consultant hat (my 1st business is as a strategic marketing consultant for seasoned entrepreneurs).
To begin with consider that we are each a personal brand with a voice, a persona, and a story. Do you show off your personal brand online, including the images you use and the words you choose? And, when I say online personal brand, I mean everything online. All of the pieces make up your personal brand in the online world, which can be very important in general. For this post, we’re going to focus more on the career side of your online persona.
For LinkedIn
I want to spend a bit more time on LinkedIn since I think this is a resource that is getting a lot of attention and it’s one that people aren’t as comfortable with. LinkedIn is a great resource.
Is your current job info updated? Has your role changed? You likely update your profile when you change roles within your current employer or as you change companies, but what about updating information as your same role changes over time. Maybe you’ve had a re-org in your company and your role is nuanced a different way because you’re in a different department. Perhaps you’re taking on more responsibility as you work on getting promoted. Update your information to reflect this evolution.
We all can forget to include new information as we’re trying to make things happen at work and at home or it simply falls off our to-do list. Make the effort to keep your information current, though. You never know when you might have the opportunity to engage with someone online and you don’t want to have to make those changes in a rush because you might have incomplete information or mistakes throughout your profile.
And, if you’re looking to make major career changes, you definitely need to update your LinkedIn profile. Consider talking to a career consultant or career coach if you’re trying to transition from one type of role to another or one industry to another. It can help to work with someone who specializes in this.
Looking to make updates, but not sure if you need them or not? These ideas might help:
- Let’s start with your strengths. Once you think through what they are (maybe focus on 3-5), have you reflected them in your professional profile?
- Do you use action words and show results in your profile?
- Is your role and what you actually did part of your profile or is it more of a job description?
- How are you reflecting new roles and responsibilities in your current role, even if they’re not part of what was in your original job description?
- Is your volunteer work reflected and, if so, does it focus on your strengths as well? Are the skills you have gained reflected? For example, did you manage a team, develop marketing materials for an event, or negotiate contracts with vendors. These are all real-world skills. Don’t discount them. This is especially important for mom going back to the workforce if you’ve had time away.
- Get testimonials from people you’ve worked on projects with. It never hurts for others to highlight your strengths.
If you’re wondering if LinkedIn is important enough to get your attention, consider that most recruiters I’ve spoken to in the past have shared they won’t look at a candidate seriously who doesn’t have a LinkedIn profile. Emily Kapit, 3X Certified Master Resume Writer & Leading Career Strategist and owner of Refresh Your Step, shares: “In today’s world, regardless of sector and level – and whether or not you are actively engaged in a job search – it is imperative that you be on LinkedIn with an updated profile and one that is not a duplicate of your resume content. And she adds that this is for: “job seekers, those happy with their current role, [and] entrepreneurs.”
For Twitter
When it comes to Twitter, your account might be more personal or more professional. Only you can decide which is more appropriate in your situation. Either way, is there a way to integrate your strengths into your account? Do you highlight these strengths with what you share? Do you need to update your Twitter profile or even your Twitter handle to be more professional if you’re trying to be more career-focused on Twitter?
Facebook can be a tough one. Maybe it’s not about what you share, although I would definitely think through what you’re sharing online. Maybe it’s more of who you share it with. Can you start putting in place more privacy settings or better segment who sees what instead of sharing everything with everyone?
Companies these days definitely look at your Facebook profile, so consider that. I would imagine clients take a peek at your personal and business pages as well. Consider what you post about, including any really controversial topics, especially those related to your industry or employer. It’s OK to have opinions, but realize who can see what you’re sharing that might not know your perspective or your story. They might see something controversial without context.
Consider a Facebook business page to drive professional contacts to if you’re trying to highlight an aspect of your own business. That way you can drive people there instead of friend them on your personal page.
It’s your choice to create a business page. Keep in mind that as per Facebook rules, we shouldn’t be sharing business stuff on our personal pages anyway, so this is a fundamental reason to create a business page.
Instagram can also be tough. Like Facebook, it might not be what you share but who you share it with. Can you make your account private?
Think about the message you’re sending with whatever you share on Instagram. If you’re trying to focus on your personal brand to be more professional, but your Instagram is all about your kids, that sends mixed messages. You can make your Instagram account more of a blend of life and work. People like seeing your personality shine through, so you don’t only want it to be all business. But, if you’re going to promote your Instagram account, make sure it has business and personal elements blended.
Tips to Consider for All Social Media Accounts
If you’re trying to be more professional or looking at an internal or external job change, consider these general tips for all social media. While you might not think everything online needs to reflect your personal brand, remember that more and more companies are looking to social media when they consider you as a candidate for a job, even if you’re moving within the same company. Or maybe you’re looking to partner with a new company/group or get a new client. It might even be that you’re hiring someone new on your team. In all these scenarios, people who don’t know you will likely be looking at your holistic online presence. You want your social media to accurately reflect your personal brand.
- Make sure you haven’t said anything bad about previous employers or employees.
- Don’t only focus on your family – create more of your personal brand that blends family (to whatever extent you’re comfortable with) and work.
- Don’t only focus on business and let some of your personality shine through.
- Be strategic in what you show and how you show it so that the story you share in your online presence is consistent.
Once you update your social media accounts and online profiles, you’re ready to start networking. Check out my recent blog on networking where you are or download my free guide on networking.
Are there changes you’re trying to make in your online presence? Are you trying to integrate specific strengths, concepts, or new skills? I’d love to hear from you in the comments about what updates you’re making and how you’re creating that in your personal brand online.
