How to build a purposeful online presence: Being intentional and consistent are key!

During a work meeting, Mr Oluwasina Demilade spoke about his passion for sharing information in various formats to help people become the best versions of themselves. Since this is a passion of mine too, I realised we could expound on a previous article I posted on personal branding and the importance of building a purposeful online presence. The same theme was also covered in another article on the importance of harnessing the power of LinkedIn . As an educator and communication consultant, it has been my pleasure to help people build their online presence and showcase their achievements and/or expertise.

For those who wish to learn more about building a useful online presence, below are some ideas Mr Demilade shared with me:

Living one’s full potential requires a favourable online presence

In January 2022, according to datareportal.com , more than 62.5% of the world's population - 4.95 billion people?- were using the internet. That is huge! Many more people are relying on the internet as a way to find information, compare products/brands and discover new ones. That number also highlights the potential number of people who can find you and get to know about what you do online. The possibilities are immense and so is the potential loss if you do not have an online presence. Common sense now tells people you meet for the first time to 'Google' you and so, if they find nothing, it certainly?does not speak well or do anything to assure them of your legitimacy or reputation. Your online footprint should adequately represent who you are and want to be as well as how you want people to perceive you.

Not only is it important to ensure your digital platforms do not raise red flags about you, but it is also equally important that you ensure that your digital platforms can 'pitch' you.

You want to ensure you are telling stories and curating experiences that resonate with the kinds of audiences that you are seeking to attract whether it is employers, partners, co-founders, sponsors, employees, etc.

How to make sure your online presence works for you – not against you

It starts with realizing the power and possibilities embedded in the online space and being intentional with harnessing it to your benefit. It is no news that there are internet billionaires while other people use the internet either in detrimental ways or ways that do not result in any net value.

The key questions to ask are - what are my values and interests? What are my highlights? What do I want to share with the world? You can then figure out the ways you want to communicate that - through photos, videos, long-form content, etc.

And then, consistently create and share this content with the world. We must all be positively intentional about our use of social media so that in the end, the net gains will exceed any harm that social media has been purported to cause.

Practical steps to building a strong online presence

First, you have to have media platforms (not just social media). There are different types of platforms/media; Earned Media, Owned Media, and Paid Media - You at least have to start with Owned and Earned media and then use paid media to scale your brand and visibility. Second, you have to showcase what you have to offer and what you represent.?Third, you have to create the kind of content that connects people with what you want them to care about. Fourth, you have to promote what you are doing online. While these 4 steps are a start, you can imagine that there are many more things that you can do from the viewpoint of reaching your market.

While people might expect a corporate voice from a business brand, they would expect a more personalized touch from a personal brand. These days, digital platforms serve as a type of portfolio for individuals, their interests, and work.

Remember: Someone will make their opinion about you based on what you post online

It is not unusual that job applications, visa applications, and other types of applications require that you input your social media platforms. This helps interviewers understand a person and their values better as well as some of the interests and achievements they have demonstrated in the past. It is therefore important that you are treating your digital platforms as such - a place to display the kind of values you want to be known for and interests that you want to share with the world.

As always … you are welcome to share your views in the comment section below, and share with people for whom you think this could be useful. If you wish to share your expertise (or suggest someone who would share theirs) with others, please reach out and I will be more than happy to share valuable and practical tips with whoever might need them.

About the expert:

Demilade Oluwasina is an Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Learning Innovation Profesional. He presently works with the African Leadership University as Faculty for Entrepreneurship and International Business & Trade. He is also the founder of?www.planbpreneur.com , a digital platform that is committed to helping professionals thrive in the future of work and create new income and impact.

He has led and facilitated programs for and with many Pan-African as well as global clients including Africa Business School, Alibaba Business School, US Embassy Rwanda, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and many more. He led the creation of an Entrepreneurship Education toolkit for a University and consults in Entrepreneurship Development and Education.

He is a corporate trainer and transformational facilitator who speaks and writes across a variety of platforms. He founded and ran IMW Creative Enterprise for several years before transitioning into Higher Education. Demilade holds a Digital Business Transformation Management Certificate from CXO Transform, is a certified Global E-Commerce Talent Trainer and Digital Entrepreneurship Trainer with the Alibaba Business School, and a certified BUILD Entrepreneurial Leadership Educator among other qualifications.