Digital Presence vs. Digital Identity
submitted by: Charles “Charley” Timmins, Personal Marketing Advisors
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Many seasoned business consultants make the comment: “My firm is on the Internet. We have a website. We spent a lot for it. It gives great detail about what we do.” Such a website may provide a digital presence, but it is hardly the well-conceived digital identity needed to position a business consultant as the “go-to” practice in their niche.
What makes us different is what makes our expertise sought after. So, what’s your brand? How can you begin to even think you can compete with those who promote a solid brand message? That’s where you need to know how to build the appropriate brand identity on blogs, social networking sites and websites. It is the branded content of the site that is important to a consultant, not its technology.
Your digital reputation is the only accepted currency on the web. You must leverage “who you are” to affect how you earn. Today, you are not considered for any engagement without the decision makers “Googling” you. It’s their job to find out as much about you as possible. Your references are “your references”…they are biased! Do you know what the Internet says about you, the consultant?
A branded on-line identity process will drive opportunities to you. For this to happen in this new environment, you first must identify your personal brand – your unique promise of value. Then, translate that distinctiveness into the digital realm. Your resulting credibility and visibility will create demand for your services.
Charles “Charley” Timmins, an experienced coach and consultant with 35 years experience in assisting consultants, professionals and executives to Find Great Work, will be speaking on Developing Your “Brand You” Digital Identity at the January 12, 2009, meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Consultants Network.
