10 Plus Reasons You Need A Digital Presence

Friday night I spoke at a career conference. This week I have a new business call. Neither of which would have happened without my digital presence. 

The conference happened because of a Facebook connection who had been following me. It was because she liked what I shared and how I presented myself that I received the invitation to speak.

The second was the result of a Google search for digital profiles that brought up a Forbes article I had written. They liked what they read enough to research a bit more about me  - online - after which they reached out in an email.

That's enough to convince me that the time I spend on my digital self is worthwhile. But perhaps you are not as easily convinced. For you, I offer ten more reasons.

• You are your own brand. Jobs will come and go but the brand that stays with you forever is you. Today the way you, as a brand, show up online is as important as the way you show up in person.
• Your online footprint is a reflection of who you are, what you've done and what you'd like to do.
• If you don’t tell the story you want people to find - Google will.
• 94% of recruiters use or plan to use social media in their recruitment efforts.
• Prospective clients, employers and business opportunities are searching for you - online - in advance of a meeting just as they do with any major purchase.
• The lack of a digital presence sends a signal you may have something to hide.
• Traditional resumes are a formality. They don’t engage - they bore. 
• Sharing is the new currency in a digital world. Your digital presence allows you to share your views and relevant content with like minded people and to position yourself as an expert and influencer. It's an opportunity to grow your business and expand your networks.
• The line is increasingly blurred between professional you and personal you. You may run your company - but your company's brand presence alone is not enough.
• First impressions still count. The difference is now they happen on line.

The reality is - no matter who you are - business professional  to entrepreneur - CEO to salesperson - your digital you opens doors, creates new connections and keeps you marketable and relevant. It deserves your time.

Never Too Old - Unless You Want To Be - Day 11

When I turned thirty I thought I was old. My life pretty much done. I had passed my prime. When I turned forty that viewpoint seemed rather ridiculous.  I admit that when I saw fifty looming on the horizon I started to seriously worry that maybe this landmark would be it. I would be officially "old." I would now become "too old" to do "things." You know - like leave my career to go start a new one.

Of course, we know how that turned out.

While I am fully aware I am no longer twenty-four years old I never think I am "too old" to do anything. In fact, I may have gotten more brazen than I was when I was that age. But I may be in the minority. 

I know people who will tell me they're too old to wear their hair long anymore, or a bikini, or make a new friend.  They have a long, dog-eared list of what they consider not appropriate for someone their age - like dating a man ten years younger.  And then of course, my personal favorite - they're "too old" to get hired for that job.

I will not deny age discrimination occurs in the workplace. But I will offer that the more you think that's why you're not getting hired the more likely it is to be the reason. 

If you're keeping up with what's changing in your industry, continuing to be learning something new every day and approach life with an open mindset, age diminishes as a factor.

I had this conversation with someone the other day who after saying three times in a row that the reason they were not getting hired was because they were too old,  looked rather perplexed when I said I viewed my age as an asset. 

I went on to explain that the way I saw it the fact that I am not twenty-four and have embraced and understand digital marketing and find it all very exciting makes me better equipped to train and consult than if I was. My advantage is that I also understand traditional marketing and have the work and life experience to bring to the table.

The look I got back was as though I was from an alien planet.

But I know I'm not. Even Google gets it. They recently hired Patrick Collister as head of design in London who refers to himself as a "grey hair."  (I recommend listening to his podcast interview on The Future of Advertising in which he touches on this idea of being "too old." "


The thing is you're never too old. Unless you want to be.

note: This is Day #11 of a 30 Day Experiment. Here are the details on how it all started.

12 Signs You Are Not Keeping Up In The Digital Age

The easiest way to stay stagnant and make yourself less marketable is to resist change. There is no argument that there has been a lot more to resist in the last few years than I  can remember in my lifetime. The speed at which technology has transformed our lives seems to have gone into overdrive. Trying to keep up with it all can be exhausting, frustrating and seem like a part-time job. But keep up with it you must.  That is, if you want to continue to be a vital contributor to your world.

My exit from corporate life coincided with this shift. I started blogging when it didn't seem like everyone had a blog. I admit that I was surprised at the number of new friends and business connections  there were to be made through these digital platforms. It was hard at first to put myself out there, but once my toe was in the water, I saw the value and the benefits that followed.

Which is one of the many reasons I'm always amazed when people tell me they are looking for a job and they have not considered using LinkedIn. Or when I meet someone who walks like, talks like, sounds like the savvy entrepreneur or business person and when you Google them, you can't find anything. Just as disconcerting is when you find the blog they were so passionate about and there hasn't been a post in six months.

The digital world is an asset to be used in building your personal and professional brand. For the most part, this is free stuff.  Why not keep up?

Yes, I still believe that at the end of the day people want to deal with people. But in order for that to occur, it is increasing important that you become digitally savvy. 

How can you tell if you are letting yourself slip behind in these digital times? 

      Here are 12 signs:

1. You still don't have a LinkedIn profile
2. You have one but you haven't updated it in a year. 
3. You have one but refuse to include a picture.
4. You think social networking is a fad and it will pass.
5. You don't really believe the company you applied for a job with, the one you want so much, is going to  Google you.
6. You've never Googled yourself.
7. You think an on-line presence is an invasion of privacy, so you refuse to participate. 
8. You think your refusal to opt-in will make all this social networking go away.
9. Radio is still your primary source of news.
10. You still don't text.
11. You really believe someone you don't know will take your phone call.
12. You have an on-line presence but don't know about privacy controls.

Do you have others to add to this list?

Please comment below and tell me!

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