In my last blog, I discussed the need for and power of a personal brand in a down economy. In discussing this same issue with a few of my marketing and talent management colleagues, we began an exchange about the importance of self-promotion and career marketing in a Web 2.o world. As you know, the rules of the game, as it relates to job search, changed in the 1990's. The game changed from the manual process of newspaper search, send and fax, to internet job boards and candidate data mining by companies large and small. The transition was challenging for many active and passive job seekers that developed a singular strategy of simply bouncing between a few job boards, endlessly pointing and clicking in hopes of landing a call for an interview. Unfortunately, almost 90% of clicks on "apply now" go unanswered. Couple this ineffective strategy with soaring unemployment rates and fierce levels of competition and a perfect storm is created for a frustrating and uneventful job search.
In today's market, job seekers that continue to employ a singular search strategy will be left behind and overlooked by tech savvy recruiters and human resource professionals in a burgeoning Web 2.0 world. So just how does a candidate circumvent the pitfalls of singular online job search and effectively market and promote a personal brand for competitive advantage? The answer is to develop a personal brand marketing mix that incorporates an internet strategy that utilizes Web 2.0 technologies.
Web 2.0 technology, simply put, refers to the interactive capabilities available on the internet. Examples can be found in social networking, blogger and affinity or community building environments. Recruiters, talent management and human resource professionals are now utilizing blogs, community and social networking sites, podcasts, YouTube and the likes of meetup.com to search out qualified candidates and industry experts. Effectively incorporating an internet strategy into your personal brand marketing mix requires more than simply listing your name on an affinity or social networking site. Marketing your personal brand on the internet requires a strategy that consistently delivers messaging that positions you as an expert and touts your personal brand across multiple platforms. It also requires a solid dose of practicality, as uploading and listing marginal or less than desirable content can catastrophically damage your personal brand and jeopardize future job opportunities. So are you ready to develop your internet personal brand marketing strategy? Are you ready to demonstrate your competitive advantage by utilizing web technology to promote your expert personal brand? TLT Consulting Services specializes in personal branding and can help you develop your personal brand marketing internet strategy. Stay in the game and let TLT Consulting Services show you the power of your personal brand!
Until next week...
