How to Assess Your Digital Image?

In a world where the first handshake often takes place online, on platforms like Google, and the initial impression of you as a professional is formed in the digital environment, it becomes important to realize that just as we invest in the quality of our face-to-face presence, it is crucial to pay the same attention to our digital image!

??But what do potential employers, business partners, clients, colleagues... discover when they search for your name?

?? How relevant are the first-page Google results for who you are today as a professional?

?? What does your video presence look like?

??How do you differentiate yourself from all the other professionals in similar fields or perhaps from others who have the exact same name as you?

Note: this material is not written with any form of AI, it is content created based on my experience as Certified Personal Branding Strategist.

How to assess your own digital image?

I suggest below a simple way to assess your online image to help you manage your "first impression" better in the digital environment.

1. KEYWORDS. Find out which words you are searched for as a professional on Google. Why does this information help? Because if those searches are not relevant to your professional activity or to accelerating your goals, then it means you need to influence this aspect through the nature of the content you will create or be indexed by Google.

??What to do?

• Open an internet browser (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.) and search for your name as you generally communicate it in the market. Please observe what other searches are displayed below what you just typed. It is a small synthesis of the words other professionals are looking for. Are you surprised by what appears there? Are you satisfied?
• If those searches are not related to your professional activity, then it means you need to communicate more in this direction. If people are curious to find out things that are not related to who you are today as a professional, it will be useful to create a library of words you want to be known for in the market, for example, in my case: public speaking, leadership, personal branding, consultant, coach, etc. It's not a major goal, but it reflects your efforts to position yourself correctly in the market and influence the market's perception of who you are today as a professional.

2.VOLUME. How many results appear when you search for your name? Why does this information help? For someone external, who wants to get to know you and analyzes your digital image, the number of searches on Google, for example, provides an honest answer to questions like: Do you have an online presence? Do you create online content? Are you a well known professional in your filed? Or are you a person who still avoids technology, considers that it is not important to communicate online, does not do networking, etc.?

??What to do?

• If your online presence is important and useful for accelerating your business or career goals, then creating content (articles, photos, videos, interviews, etc.) on the platforms where you are present should become a goal in how you want to communicate as a professional.
• Developing a communication routine online can be beneficial. You know what they say... if it's not on your agenda, it doesn't happen!

3. RELEVANCE. What information appears on the first display page on Google? Why does this information help? Well, if the first page displays information related to my hobbies, gossip-type info, information that is not related to my professional activity, with the perception I want to instill in the minds of business partners, clients, employers – then I have work to do! It's like when you search for Amalia Sterescu and find information related to cooking, travel, family, and less about what represents me as a professional.

??What to do?

• You need to make communication efforts to bring relevant information about you as a professional to the first page of Google. And since most of the time, the first link that appears in search - is your LinkedIN profile, you can find here my Guide on how to enhance your LinkedIN profile and to transform yourself from a passive user to a content creator on LinkedIN! This can be very useful to enhance your digital presence!
• To enhance your online relevance, you can write articles on specialized websites, create video content on various channels, offer interviews, participate in podcasts, or most importantly, create your own blog, your own platform from where you can express yourself as a professional in the online environment. Choose the communication channel that suits you best!
• And do something else: CLEAN UP! Remove inappropriate photos, indecent content/comments, image associations that do not help your goal. Some information cannot be deleted, but you can "push" it back, beyond pages 3, 4 in Google by creating new, valuable content!

4. VALIDATION. Who quoted you? Who picked up what you communicated online? Who "credited" you with testimonials? Why does this information help? Because it shows online users that what you claim, communicate, express as a professional - is appreciated by other valuable sources (otherwise, it looks like you're bragging about yourself)! The more important the source that quotes you, the more useful the image capital you build in the eyes of others.

??What to do?

• Put a strategy behind your networking effort! Through strategic, constant, and persistent networking with media representatives, people with high online visibility, content creators, podcasts, bloggers, representatives of professional associations, business clubs, communities - RELEVANT for your field of activity – you will be able to build this necessary online validation over time! This type of validation increases the credibility and visibility of your personal brand as a professional. It helps in accelerating your career goals and generates new opportunities!

5. Diversity. How varied is the way you communicate as a professional? Why does this information help? Do I have articles, professional photos, video communication, am I quoted by various publications? Or at least a few of those mentioned above? This means to have a diverse online image! In a world where people consume a lot of video content, it's important to express yourself as a professional on various channels. A single photo on Google and an outdated LinkedIN profile will not make a difference!

??What to do?

• List your favorite communication channels. Do you like to write? Then write, launch a blog, use your LinkedIN profile blog that you can constantly feed with valuable content!
• Do you like to speak in public? Then create your own online events, start a podcast, communicate video on social media, or connect with event organizers and get yourself on the agenda of relevant events.
• If you like networking, then connect with business communities or people relevant to your professional activity and generate opportunities to build a strong online presence together.

In conclusion, all the elements above: Keywords, Volume, Relevance, Diversity – can help you build not only a strong online presence but can also help you express what makes you authentic as a professional. It can accelerate the development of your personal brand and generate new career and business opportunities! I recommend repeating this kind of assessment of your digital image every six months and adjusting the measures according to your business or career goals.

If you want more valuable information from my experience that can help you to make the transition from a passive LinkedIn user into a content creator - I've written an ebook that can be helpful for you! Accelerate your career! Allow yourself to shine!

With enthusiasm for our journey together,

Amalia Sterescu

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