Personal learning networks
EDCI 338
Module 4 – Professional Presence and Branding
A quick thank you to Dr. Nicholas Zaparyniuk for the content of this course. ”Dr. Zap” is the creator of this version of this course.
Source https://pastprof.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/allow-yourself-to-be-a-beginner/
PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE – AM I OUT THERE?
How can people find me? Connect with me?
How can I project my image/skills/product?
What am I about?
How can I define my “niche”, narrow my focus?
How can I create credibilty?
NO CREDIBILITY=NO INFLUENCE=NO CONNECTIONS
Experience improves your credibility
WHAT IS YOUR BRAND?
How do I want to be perceived?
What do I want people to think about me?
What are my competencies?
Am I an influencer?
Am I a leader?
Am I a promoter?
Am I a connector?
Do I create subject matter?
Am I providing a service?
Am I offering a product?
FIND AND FOLLOW YOUR NICHE
What are your everyday interests? What gets you excited or motivates you?
Avoid choosing your niche based on what you think might make you money, famous, popular etc.
If you are developing a web presence for professional reasons what are your strengths?
Is there a “niche” within your “niche”? A speciality?
Eg. If you are a teacher, maybe your niche is physical education or early childhood learning or fine arts!
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you excel in social media.
What are you good at? Speaking? Graphics? Video? Acting? Writing?
What social media channels can help you showcase these strengths.
BE SPECIFIC!!
Don’t be afraid to define your niche!
A lack of focus can negatively affect your credibilty
It takes a lot of time and work to “own” your niche and influence your audience
Find the right fit
Be original. Be you.
Image source www.vervesearch.com
Both the QUALITY and QUANTITY of your content counts!
Social media is an equal opportunity for people to be seen and heard – but not everyone will be able to gain attention or even fame.
Aim to add VALUE through how you use social media.
BUILDING PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
You can reach out to people in your PLN and contribute content, interview people, or have someone write about you blog, video etc.
Collaborate! Find someone with the same ideas and work together.
Are you being strategic with your content? Keep the end goal in mind.
Leverage other people’s content, repost, retweet, comment, review…social media is about sharing content.
Curate content…show you care by how you share!
Leverage your free content into consulting or writing opportunities or other business ventures
GETTING STARTED
Work with other people’s content
Review something – a book, a blog, a restaurant, a band and get it out there… Tweet, Instagram, post images, link it to your blog.
Find out what platform your niche audience is using and start posting
It takes time, effort, willingness to communicate, strategy and some skill to be successful on social media - but it is there for the taking.
WAYS TO GET STARTED
With social media, more is more… the more exposure the better.
Be a guest blogger.
Participate in the offline events like meet ups, cons etc. and then post about them.
Collaborate on content
Don’t pass up opportunities, no matter how small.
Never undervalue a connection
Make your decisions with both your long term and short term goals in mind
WHERE CAN THIS LEAD?
Job prospects
Community and friendships
Collaboration opportunities
Speaking opportunities
Unexpected outcomes!
You are a hard worker
You know how to hustle
You know how to use the tools of our society for your benefit
You understand career management
Etc.
Image source http://marianacoetzee.blogspot.com/2016/06/facts-of-hidden-curriculum-at-schools.html
PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE
LinkdIn
PERSONAL BRADING STEP BY STEP
Define who you are – your niche (who you are and who you are not)
Tag line – one sentence that says what you are all about
30 second pitch – also known as the elevator speech, one paragraph that describes you
Professional picture
About.me OR Campus.about.me profile OR LinkedIn Profile
Personal/professional blog
Share and connect
Get feedback from people you trust to be honest with you
Iterate
About Me