Online personal branding is the future of networking

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For consultants, lawyers, personal trainers, and other customer-facing professionals the way they do business significantly changed during the pandemic. A big part of the job in roles like these is building key relationships with clients. And human connection is a key factor in doing so, like handshakes and in-person meetings. However, in a post-COVID world that has all changed.

The relationship-building strategies that many came to rely on suddenly had to take place online. In person meetings were moved to video calls and handshakes replaced with social distancing. Everyone was left scrambling to adapt to the new realities and find unique ways to do business. And while eventually, most things may return to how they once were, it’s clear that digital relationship building is here to say.

To be successful you’ll need to learn how to build a strong personal brand online. We caught up with digital branding agency Fresh Engagements to get their perspective on what it takes to be successful at online personal branding.

Manage Your Digital First Impression

First impressions are everything, and it’s no different for the online world. Prospective clients and business partners are likely to check you out before an introductory video call. And if they don’t, they’ll definitely be inclined to do so afterwards. So, if your digital first impression isn’t up to par you could be losing key opportunities before they begin.

The first thing you should do is ensure that your profile information on all social media platforms is accurate. This includes all platforms whether you’re active or not. Doing this will ensure that any profile that pops up on a search engine is accurate and cohesive. On accounts you’re regularly active; take the time to write out a clear, informative, and appealing bio. You should include key details like what you do, how you can be contacted, and preferably a website where they can learn more about you.

Connect With Your Clients

If you’re just starting to use social media for your personal brand you want to spend the time connecting with all your clients there. Give them a follow and send them a quick message to get their attention. Once you do this, they’ll know you’ve connected with them and better your odds of being on their radar.

You should also consider regularly checking in with them. This can be with a simple message hello, or by engaging with their content. Just like you would catch up with a coffee or see each other for a weekly meeting, these small points of contact hold just as much value.

Build A Strong Network

Besides connecting with clients, you should also spend time building networking relationships. Staying in contact with peers at your company or business connections in your industry is just as important. You can also take it a step forward by becoming a digital connector within your wider network. There’s no better feeling than making an introduction between two people you think would benefit from the relationship. Whether it’s making a simple introduction online or hosting a virtual networking event there is so much you can do to manage your network digitally.

Share Valuable Content

Publishing content regularly is great. It helps to keep you consistent at the top of feeds and minds. However, the mistake that many people make is to post without intent. You should focus on sharing content that will be valuable to your audience, be it your clients or general connections. Taking the opportunity to establish yourself as a thought leader or source of key information is how you can maximize the situation. You should also ensure that you can be consistent when you post so your audience can anticipate it.

Be A Digital Brand Ambassador

One way to share valuable information with your audience is to come up with content from your company or firm. It’s free content for you to repurpose and also allows you to show pride and loyalty to your employer. It also allows you to stay in the know with all the latest news from your organization. This not only helps you better serve your clients and peers but aligns your personal brand with your company.