How To Market Yourself Online

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In a highly competitive marketplace with more and more experienced people from all over the world applying for the same jobs, you need to focus your job hunting efforts on those things that will separate you from the competition. Learning to market yourself is a worthwhile venture, even if you have not yet lost your job.

1. Do not wait for the job interview to make yourself known. Build a reputation for yourself as an expert in your field by starting your own niche website or blog. The topics and content you publish on your site or blog should be very closely related to the field in which you want to work. When you send out your resume to prospective employers, mention this blog or niche website.

If the hiring agent is familiar with your work, you’ve got it made. And even if he isn’t, if he spends any time looking at your site or blog, he will know exactly what your expertise level is.

2. Just be careful not to include a lot of negativity in your site or blog. Even when you are correct, negativity does not enhance your image and is not something most employers want more of in the workplace.

Keep your information pertinent to the topic. Make your niche site or blog a showcase for your knowledge by giving out helpful, insightful information. Just do not come across as talking down to people.

3. Stay very active with your content and networking. Use it as an opportunity to meet with others in the industry and to swap ideas and to form single project partnerships. Link to other useful information and try to get others to link to you. Respond positively to the comments people leave for you.

4. Of course, you shouldn’t get so wrapped up in what you are doing online that you fail to keep in touch with your offline networks. In particular, if you are hoping for a local job, you need to attend local industry events and conventions.

Always have your business card on hand, including a link to your online content, to swap with others. Your next employer or client may be the person sitting next to you at the local event.

5. Make sure you are always readily available. Make sure you are easily reached by phone, e-mail, and messenger. Post all of this information on your website or blog, around your content, but do not make your contact information the content itself.

Again, your content needs to be focused on your industry. If you can’t think of anything to say, write reviews or commentaries about industry events or articles you’ve read lately.

6. Part of being readily available is responding immediately when someone leaves a message for you. An autoresponder is a good idea, but make sure you follow up each contact or comment immediately. This is true whether you receive a voice message, e-mail, or messenger message.

7. You need to include your personality in your posts and conversations, but always with a full measure of professionalism. Never break away from professionalism. Always keep in mind that you are trying to market your qualifications as a professional, not for your social value. Proactive progressiveness and professionalism are the keys to effectively market yourself online.

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1. Use Twitter to Market Your Business