A presentation that I developed to look at ways to enhance and take control of your online image!

1. Creating a
Professional
Online Image
Judy Juarez
Career Center
Cal Poly Pomona

2. “First impressions last a
lifetime and an increasing
amount of those impressions
are made online.”
-Forbes Magazine

3. What Constitutes an Online Presence?

4. 3 Main Components to build a
Professional Online Identity
Establish
Authority
Update Often
Develop
Personal Style

5. (Author)ity
Take control of your online presence by being
intentional about what you post

6. Self-Google!
Set up a “Google Alert” for
your name and other areas of
interests you want to stay up to
date on.

7. Use Social Media to positively influence your
online image
Purchase own domain: yourname.com
This will help you take full control of how you appear online
Wix.com
Weebly.com
Webydo.com
Start blogging
This will help you showcase your expertise and share your
voice
Wordpress.com
Blogger.com

8. Email Etiquette
Consider how you communicate through email
• Always address contacts professionally
• Do not use emoticons or “text-talk”
• Emails are not necessarily a private source of
communication. (It can be a representation of you)
Use an appropriate email signature
• Link to your website, social media, or a place where
they can find out more about you.

9. Authority
Use nameplate websites to centralize your online
presence:
About.me
Flavors.me

10. Update Often
“You cannot not
communicate”

11. Update Often
• If creating your own content (Blog posts, creating an
online portfolio) is too much for you right now start by
sharing information online
• Share relevant articles through LinkedIn and add your
own insight on the topic
• Retweet tweets from professionals and companies in
your relevant field
• Engage in dialogue through “shot-outs” on social
media or your own personal blog/website

12. Update Often
• Research the top companies, professional affiliations,
and influential leaders in your field.
• Comment on blog posts, articles and other forms of
media.

13. Personal Style
Be consistent and narrow your expertise
• Is each site giving the same message you want to display?
• Is your personal brand narrowed down to your areas of
expertise?
• Your bio should be consistent and representative of your
online presence
Photos
• Tip: invest in professional looking pictures or “action shots”
doing something in your field
• Remove any pictures that might display a negative image of
you

14. Questions?