Your online presence, be it for social or professional purposes, advertises exactly who and what you are. Although it is common knowledge that many employers take a look at your online profiles in order to find out exactly who you are, too many people forget that their online presence is in fact the way they market themselves.

There are many online actions that can make or break your reputation, therefore it is necessary to accept that you really are a digital marketer and your social networks should reflect your personal brand. Here are 10 tips on how to be an effective digital marketer – creating and maintaining your brand:

1. Sign up for as many social networks as you can, thereby increasing your online presence.
2. Spring-clean your current profiles, removing any images, posts or videos that could affect your image in an unfavourable way.
3. Word your bio’s in a clever way, communicate your passion for your field by carefully promoting your skills and interests, including your field of study in there.
4. Promote your experience, even if you have very little. Add any internships, volunteering or other work to your social networks by listing them on your profiles, writing posts or following the companies. Just ensure that any contract you might have signed with companies does not forbid you to mention them, in any way, on social networks.
5. In addition to your LinkedIn account, set up an alternative online portfolio, start a blog or website, showcasing all of your knowledge, skills and attributes in a visual manner.
6. Take note of the manner in which you conduct yourself. When you are active online, be exactly the way on which you want prospective employers to see you.
7. Maintain your profiles; ensure that all of your information and even profile pictures are up to date.
8. Check your facts. The internet is a vast pool of information; ensure that your facts are 100% accurate before publishing a post. Having someone call you out is both embarrassing and everlasting (on the internet).
9. Keep on top of your online relationships. Social networks are just as much a networking opportunity as a live event. Interact with people, offer help when asked, engage in conversations and follow people in your field. If you blog, you can even look into requesting guest posts from people. Click here to read our article on the benefits and risks of guest posts to evaluate whether or not this is a smart decision for your online brand.
10. Call up on favours. It is difficult to build a great online presence, so do not be shy to ask people for references or testimonials in order to build on your own sales collateral.

Mari Roelofse is a Digital Journalist & Content Editor for Sound Idea Digital | mari@soundidea.co.za | Sound Idea Digital | www.soundidea.co.za