Navigating your professional online presence, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, can be a daunting task for many, especially those of us who gravitate towards introspection and value privacy. Acknowledging this, it’s vital to understand that the digital landscape has transformed the way our professional narratives are crafted and perceived, often serving as the initial point of interaction in our career or business journeys.
If the prospect of increasing your LinkedIn presence feels overwhelming or if privacy concerns have made you hesitant, you’re in good company. The hesitation is not uncommon, based on not knowing where to begin or how to authentically represent oneself online.
However, embracing your digital presence is important, as it shapes your online reputation and how potential employers, clients, or collaborators perceive you. I like to think of spending time on LinkedIn as ‘tending to your LinkedIn garden’. Your profile is your garden, and just like my Grandfather taught me when I first learned to tend to my vegetable patch, it needs regular attention to thrive.
Taking Ownership of Your Online Persona
Let’s start with checking what people can already find out about you online. Here’s what I do on a regular basis to keep an eye on this.
Monitor Your Digital Footprint
Utilise tools like Google Alerts to keep track of your online mentions. This is a foundational step in managing what information about you is accessible online.
Conduct a Self-Audit
Search for your name using search engines and assess the information available about you online. This exercise is crucial for understanding your current online presence and deciding how you want to be perceived.
How to Embark on Your LinkedIn Journey
Here are four thoughtful steps to help cultivate your LinkedIn presence:
1. Define your focus on LinkedIn
Determine your objectives for using LinkedIn. Whether you’re job hunting, fostering business connections, or building a professional network, your focus will guide how you craft your profile and engage on the platform.
To clarify your focus, ponder these questions:
- What do you want to be recognised for?
- Who do you aim to influence or engage with?
Reflecting on these will help articulate your personal brand and how you can distinguish yourself.
2. Tend to your LinkedIn garden
Armed with a clearer understanding of your purpose and personal brand, revisit your LinkedIn profile. Adjust it to reflect your professional aspirations, ensuring it communicates your skills, experience, and the unique value you offer. This includes reviewing your photo, skills, location, and summarising your experience and goals. With LinkedIn’s vast user base and activity, optimising your profile ensures it surfaces early in search results associated with your name, giving you control over your professional narrative.
3. Request Recommendations
Social proof, like endorsements and recommendations from colleagues and clients, enriches your profile. These acknowledgements validate your skills and contributions, enhancing your credibility.
4. Prioritise Privacy Settings:
Be judicious about your privacy settings across social media and other online platforms. While LinkedIn should highlight your professional brand, other accounts might require more stringent privacy controls to manage what information is visible to the public.
Embarking on this journey requires introspection and strategic action. By taking these steps you are taking greater control over your professional narrative, ensuring that it accurately reflects your values, skills, and career aspirations. Remember, this isn’t merely about crafting an online persona; it’s about strategically positioning yourself in the professional world while staying true to your values and privacy needs.
