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Recruiters and hiring decision makers routinely search online for information about candidates they’re assessing. If they can’t find you online, you could be missing out on golden opportunities.
The more on-brand, accurate results for you, the stronger your credibility as a candidate, the better your online identity looks, and the more information about you is easily accessible to them.
Blogs Build Brands
Blogging regularly in any way (commenting, guest blogging, or on your own blog) will exponentially build search results for your name. Blogging also opens you up to a forward-thinking community you may not otherwise connect with and can position you as a subject matter expert.
Commenting on relevant blogs that carry good link weight is a relatively quick and painless way to build your brand-reinforcing online footprint. If you choose the right blogs, your comments will position you and your brand value directly in front of the very people you want to attract.
First, you’ll need a URL to insert, along with your name, when you post comments. Whatever web page you choose should house comprehensive information about you that differentiates you from your competition. If you don’t have a website or blog, your on-brand LinkedIn profile or VisualCV will work perfectly well.
Of course, the added benefit of having a branded LinkedIn profile and/or VisualCV is that they, too, will build relevant search results when people Google “your name”, and lead them directly to exactly the compelling information you want them to know about you.
Where to find the right blogs for you:
- At Alltop.com and Technorati.com, source relevant blogs by category. Don’t forget to look for recruiters blogs, too.
Set up Google Alerts (they're free!) for relevant key word phrases that will lead you to the right blogs.
Google the names of industry thought leaders and experts to see where they’re blogging.
Google relevant key words for your industry or field and your areas of expertise.
- Take a look at the blogrolls on any of the relevant blogs you come across for other blogs to consider.
When you post comments:
- Keep your comments brief (1-2 paragraphs) and on-topic.`
Add value to the conversation and position yourself as a niche expert.
Although bloggers love to read “Terrific post!”, offer more than just kudos.
- There’s a tendency to feel that, when you comment, you’re having a private conversation with the blogger. Keep in mind that, once you hit “submit comment”, whatever you have written will be out in the blogosphere forever.
Bottom Line
Just to keep pace with your competition in the job market, especially if you’re an executive, you need to have a web presence. I'm assuming you have already created your personally branded career marketing communications as a foundation for all your online strategies, and the blog commenting will fit right in, enhancing your brand.
© Copyright Meg Guiseppi, 2009. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
--------------------------------------------- Meg Guiseppi, Job-Hunt’s Personal Branding Expert and 20-year careers industry veteran, holds 7 certifications, including Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Reach Certified Online Identity Strategist, and Master Resume Writer. Meg is the author of the ebook, "23 Ways You Sabotage Your Executive Job Search and How Your Brand Will Help You Land." Connect with Meg at Executive Career Brand, on LinkedIn (LinkedIn.com/in/megguiseppi), and on Twitter (@megguiseppi).
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