How to Create a Strong Online Reputation

Having a strong online professional reputation today is more important than ever. Your credibility as a leader is at stake when people cannot find you online.

Further, if you are found online and what is found is outdated, incomplete, negative, or inconsistent, then you as the leader are at risk of being viewed as a poor leader. This is like having bad press, and no leader or company can afford bad press in a world driven by consumer perception and opinion.

In case you want to know how to brand your business online, follow the methods below.

1.   Define your personal brand position

This is your individual market position, which you will then need to commit as a  leader. Your position must include these elements:

·       Your overall statement of how you are different, yet better than your competition. What sets you apart? If you were to interview yourself, what would you honestly tell yourself about your top strengths and why you have earned the right to lead your company? This can be visual, a collective of your videos, posts, or artwork.

·       Your own personal mission statement as a leader and what you can deliver to your clients. How can you help others for free?

2.   Develop a personal brand style of communication

Create a communication standard that you can commit your time to and perfect it as you commit. Your communication style is what you are great at in terms of driving influence and action as a leader.

To uncover this, you need to assess and ask those that follow you around you where you excel. It may be as a speaker, a panelist, a writer, an interviewee, an analytical thought leader, a visionary, or someone with strong opinions, ideas, and experience in their industry.

Choosing your style in relation to online personal brand development is critical before you invest any time and money in the process.

3.   Define your personal brand image

When defining your image online, consider these elements:

·       Your image should be in line with your organizational culture. Even if you run or are a part of a small business, the culture is important to developing a brand.

·       Your personal brand image must suit the audience you are serving.

·       Your smile, gestures, tone of voice and writing style need to be authentic to who you are and support your need to make your audience comfortable.

·       A positive image and appearance is crucial to acceptance by the media. Don’t overdo it, though. It must be honest.

·       You need to determine, based on your culture, where you do business and what type of business you are in.

It is never too early for you to start assessing and building a personal online brand. As noted, there is plenty of room for you to take the lead as others ignore the obvious importance of a social  brand.

Take it one step at a time and do it right. Before you know it, your brand will be synonymous with a strong position, style, and image and earning positive social sentiment, ultimately leading to new business that will hopefully, make you a lot of success. But it's important to understand that real image creation takes time.  Persist by being visible on various social media sites that enhance your message.

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