Offline and Online Presence is the Way Forward – Building a Genuine Digital Presence in the Age of AI

These days, if you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re either sitting on a large inheritance or seriously out of touch with the industry. For freelancers in particular and job seekers in general, having a digital presence is now perhaps as essential as being qualified to work.

A network of peers and industry members is essential in the offline era; does it not make sense that professional networking would be equally, if not more important, in the digital age? I remember starting online networking in 2004, which was particularly helpful.

As I moved cities and countries, I could remain in constant touch with my established network and leverage it for various purposes. For a Global Mobility Professional, a network that travels everywhere with them is priceless.

Looking back at that time and analyzing the power that my digital professional network afforded me, I thought about how this could be used to empower job seekers everywhere. That is how the Global People Club was set up: to allow professionals to hack the Swiss Job Market with strong business connections, both offline and online.

Say you’ve joined a professional networking group like HireMe. How can you develop a digital presence that lets you take full advantage of the networking opportunities? Here’s the quick lowdown on how to do just that:

1- Pinpoint the Best Social Platform

LinkedIn may be the ‘de facto’ professional networking platform for the masses, but specific industries are known to frequent alternative digital platforms. Photographers and videographers have made their homes on YouTube and Instagram. The bottom line: Inhabit the right digital spaces to make the right connections.

2 – Play the Long Game

The internet era is rife with scams and fake profiles. Building trust with a stranger takes longer than it would through only real-world meetings. You can speed the process by creating your digital home, ideally a blog with a thorough resume for visitors. Once you’ve interacted with someone online, directing them to your blog would allow them to access your professional biography and provide a way to contact you. 

3 – Support Your Community

Self-promotion is a big turn-off. Instead, focus on promoting other people’s work. Endorsing others’ work (on LinkedIn or elsewhere) is a great way to influence your network positively. It benefits people who are modest or doubt their achievements (a condition known as impostor syndrome). You can build goodwill among colleagues and peers by fostering a communal, supportive network. It is essential to make the right image online.

4 – Meet People IRL (In Real Life)

A general assumption about digital presences is that they are heavily curated, cherry-picking information that may not represent the whole picture. Showing that you’re as lovely, if not nicer, in real life will be a pleasant and welcome surprise to all who meet you. Be genuine in providing help and be authentic, and good things will happen to you. I recommend meeting at least one person for lunch each week. 

5 – Join a Group with Potential to Meet Socially

It’s not easy to find and publish your digital identity. That’s why professional support groups like our Global People Club exist. We are building a community for our clients and former clients, and we also meet in person at events and cultural happenings.

Go through the HireMeExpress Online Coaching Program