The document discusses personal branding and managing your digital footprint. It emphasizes that your online presence and digital footprint can influence how others perceive you, such as potential employers. It provides tips for monitoring what information exists online about you, adjusting your digital footprint if needed, and using personal branding strategies to curate a favorable online image. Personal branding is important for differentiation in today's competitive job market where employers may research applicants online.

1. Unleash Your Brand By Robin Low

2. perception You are as good as how people perceive you.

3. The Digital Age The Digital Age The Digital Age The Digital Age

4. are you using social media? If you are a student and a young adult, the chances are – Yes, you are using Social Media to connect with your friends. Do you have a blog, Facebook account, Twitter account? Do you leave comments on blogs or forums?

5. digital footprint Internet users are becoming more aware of their digital footprint Most internet users are not concerned about the amount of information available Most do not take steps to limit that information Fully 60% of internet users say they are not worried about how much information is available about them online Majority of online adults (61%) do not feel compelled to limit the amount of information that can be found about them online. 2008 PEW RESEARCH CENTER

6. I know you Anyone can tell a great deal about you from your digital footprints. - where you've been - where you are - who you know - where you work - what your hobbies are - what you think about certain issues and much more.

7. why should you be concerned? HR departments, recruiters, universities are searching the Internet when you Interact with them. They're looking to: a) validate what your actual resume said b) learn more about you … in a non office environment GOOGLE is a very common tool! In essence, your digital footprint is your resume.

8. generation Y , the millennials Gen Y, are major drivers of the next three trends. Uploading audio, video and other media sharing. Communicate via text-messaging, Twitter and instant-messaging over e-mail. Keeping in touch with each other online via social-networking sites.

10. why should you be concerned?

11. Differentiation 1998 No of people Graduating in China– 800,000 Graduating in Canada– 1,000,000 2008 No of people Graduating in China– 7,800,000 Graduating in Canada– 1,250,000 India ??? www.bls.gov and World Socialist Web Site

12. Globalization Developed nations outsourced manufacturing and white collar jobs. -- less jobs for their people Job insecurity, mergers and acquisition Job competition – many people with similar skills globally compete for same job World travelers – people are free to travel across borders freely

14. Understanding your Digital Footprint

21. properties of social media 1. Persistence. What you say sticks around. This is great for asynchronicity, not so great when everything you've ever said has gone down on your permanent record. 2. Replicability. You can copy and paste a conversation from one medium to another, adding to the persistent nature of it. This is great for being able to share information, but it is also at the crux of rumor spreading.

22. 3. Searchability. It is quite easy to track someone down or to find someone as a result of searching for content. Search changes the landscape, making information available at our fingertips. 4. Scalability. Social media scales things in new ways. Conversations that were intended for just a friend or two might spiral out of control and scale to the entire school or, if it is especially embarrassing, the whole world. 5. (de)locatability. With the mobile, you are dislocated from any particular point in space, and location-based technologies make location much more relevant. This paradox means that we are simultaneously more and less connected to physical space. properties of social media (cont)

23. dynamics of social media 1. Invisible Audiences. We are used to being able to assess the people around us when we're speaking. We can adjust to our audience. Social media introduces all sorts of invisible audiences. There are lurkers who are present at the moment but whom we cannot see, but there are also visitors who access our content at a later date or in a different environment than where we first produced them. As a result, we have to present ourselves and communicate without fully understanding the potential or actual audience. The potential invisible audiences can be stifling.

24. dynamics of social media (cont) 2. Collapsed Contexts. In choosing what to say when, we account for both the audience and the context more generally. Social media brings all of these contexts crashing into one another and it's often difficult to figure out what's appropriate, let alone what can be understood. 3. Blurring of Public and Private. These distinctions are normally structured around audience and context with certain places or conversations being "public" or "private." These distinctions are much harder to manage when you have to contend with the shifts in how the environment is organized.

26. google you It's critical to learn how to monitor and manage electronic information about yourself. You can't control all the information You can ensure that your digital footprint presents an accurate, favorable, and professional image of you.

27. google you Google yourself (yes Google is now a verb) and find out what information about you — if any — is already online. You may find very little is linked to your name, or you may discover much more information about you than you anticipated.

28. Hi I’m Robin Low… http:// www.facebook.com/socialhub http://www.facebook.com/DMacademy http://www.facebook.com/catwisdom http://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlow88 http://blog.newsocialmediabrand.com/ http://blog.unleashyourbranding.com/ http://life-in- boston.blogspot.com / http://reviewsguru.blogspot.com/ http://satsugaicat.blogspot.com/ http://www.slideshare.net/robinlow http://www.slideshare.net/dmediaacademy http://twitter.com/robin_low http://twitter.com/satsugaicat http://www.rediscoverosarito.org/ http://www.greenyarn.com/ http://www.facebook.com/Greenyarnllc

32. YOU If an online search of yourself reveals items that you wouldn't want hiring managers to see, such as photos or commentary you posted in an open forum, contact the person who posted the information or the website administrator to ask that it be taken down.

33. YOU Not happy with the results? Re-evaluate your participation habits and make adjustments. It is never too late or too early to start and rebrand yourself.

35. Personal Branding Personal Branding Personal Branding Personal Branding

36. Today, staying in a company for a long period of time is a rare phenomenon. The median years a person stays in one job is 4.1 years (2008), an average person will have to have 7-10 jobs. With that 4.1 median years of employee tenure, the person has to have multiple of jobs. Of course, there will be people who can stay in 3-4 jobs throughout their lifetime. It depends on education, age, and gender. Your personal brand will the constant in the ultra dynamic environment, where you must demonstrate values to attract opportunities that align with your skills, passions and strengths. More information here: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm

37. what is personal branding? The process by which individuals and entrepreneurs differentiate themselves and stand out from a crowd by identifying and articulating their unique value proposition, whether professional or personal, and then leveraging it across platforms with a consistent message and image to achieve a specific goal. In this way, individuals can enhance their recognition as experts in their field, establish reputation and credibility, advance their careers, and build self-confidence. -- Dan Schawbel

38. why is personal branding important? "18% of working college graduates report that their employer expects some form of self-marketing online as part of their job.“ -- Digital Footprints, Pew Internet and American Life Project, December 2007. "22% of managers screen their staff using social networks and 10% of admissions officers verify potential students using social networks.“ -- Careerbuilder.com & Kaplan "There are 1.5 million graduating college students for 2009 and employers are only hiring 1.3% more of them. Differentiation through branding is imperative for success." -- Hartford Courant & WSJ

39. Process

40. A well-executed personal branding campaign creates a strong, consistent, and specific association between the individual and the perceived value they offer. Personal branding is common among entertainment, political, and sports figures. In business, individuals such as Donald Trump, Martha Stewart, and Jack Welch have created enormous personal visibility and success by actively promoting their personal brands. Donald Trump will show you how to get rich. Martha Stewart will show you how to look good. Jack Welch will show you how to manage a business.

41. Personal branding typically begins with establishing an inventory of core competencies, expertise, demonstrated abilities, and existing level of recognition, informed by market research or feedback. Questions to be answered revolve around who needs to know about you, what need are you best-positioned to fill, and what differentiates you from others in your field or space?

42. Personal Branding consists of three elements: Value Proposition: What do you stand for? Differentiation: What makes you stand out? Marketability: What makes you compelling?

44. Keep it Real Branding is not bragging. Many people label themselves as "Gurus", "Experts" or "world renowned", and those who are not will run the risk of being exposed. Sincerity and being authentic will build trust which is important when building relationships. Like romantic relationships, genuineness, openness and being up front from the start are important for personal branding as well. Maintaining open communication and assuming accountability for your actions is also key.

45. visibility creates opportunity

47. success is being prepared for opportunity Though this saying is true, opportunity usually comes with visibility. (E.g. Susan Boyle) Other ways of getting visibility is networking.

48. Opportunities and advancements will arise through networking and visibility. Effective brand messaging can create awareness and create opportunities. Visibility also allows you to spread influence within your company or industry, capturing the attention of peers and convincing them of your abilities while establishing trust and mutual respect.

50. Networking Tips: Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections. Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.

51. Networking Tips: Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.

52. Networking Tips: Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them. Have a clear understanding of what you do and why; for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.

53. Networking Tips: Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, "How may I help you?" and no immediate answer comes to mind. Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas. -- Stephanie Speisman "99 Tips for Successful Business Networking."

54. The dos and don'ts of effective networking 1. Reach out. Stay connected 2. Meet, talk and listen. No one is too insignificant, too old, too young, too vague or too remote until you have spoken and interacted with them. 3. Network with your own sort and reach out to those who are beyond your professional realm. 4. Develop your communication skills, you will not only win contacts and clients but friends for life. 5. Be your best. People size you up during the first 15 seconds after you are introduced. 6. Give and receive -- Give in order to receive.

56. Do's Make strong first impression. Meet people. Meet more people. Call, send e-mails, notes and cards. But the best way is, almost always, to call in person. Try to remember about facts of each person you meet, including the person's name. Circulate when you meet a group at an official meet or seminar. Don't stick to the one or two people you know. Introduce yourself to as many new people as possible. Appear likeable and approachable. Be positive not brash, friendly not overtly flattering. Speak about yourself and your work without bragging. Listen to what other people have to say.

57. Do's Follow up on prospective contacts without hounding them. Make a call, fix up an appointment and proceed. Call your contacts at regular intervals. It can be once a week, once a month or once in three months. But a friendly follow-up is a must to keep your network alive. Dress for the occasion. Be aware of the person's feeling when talking to them. Find ways to promote other individuals, and they will reciprocate.

58. Don'ts Presume or make imaginary distinctions while meeting people. No one should be dismissed as too unimportant or useless or vague before you actually meet them. Draw your conclusions after you have spoken to them. Ramble or go off-track when describing your work objectives. After a short prologue about yourself and your job, go straight to the point. Stop and explain anything that needs to be elaborated on or if you find your interlocutor looking confused.

59. Don'ts Interrupt a conversation and force your way in. Argue with what people have to say. Try and counter questions, doubts or skepticism with sound, logical explanations. Don't try to fool around with facts, but do stress on your strengths.

60. Don'ts Be negative, unsociable and a “know-it-all”. In the case of a particularly unpleasant encounter, remember this may be the last time you are meeting that person. On the other hand, it could be the beginning of a rich long-term association! Forget your business card at home. Have poor posture and no confidence.

62. Case Study 1: The story of 2 Engineers.

63. I have 2 friends, both engineers and graduates from the top university in Singapore. After graduating from the University, Mr Ng got a good project management job at a large international company; Mr Ho decided to work for a local investment company as the financial sector interests him more.

64. After 8 years Mr Ng and Mr Ho took courses to further their financial education together. Mr Ng for his personal interest. Mr Ho as part of his job requirement. Mr Ng started his blog and got into investment on his own on the side. After making some money, Mr Ng actually wrote a book and published it. Mr Ho worked for the company but did not really apply his knowledge for his personal investments.

65. 2 Years later Mr Ng published his book and it was sold at several bookstores. Even the library carried it. Mr Ng got an offer from Mr Ho’s company and even without any financial experience from his previous job, Mr Ng became the boss of Mr Ho’s manager. Mr Ho still kept his knowledge to himself and never discussed his work and vast knowledge and experience, hiding his talent. Mr Ng is now a few levels up the bureaucracy as the vice president of Mr Ho’s department as he showed his knowledge, networked and was very visible with his book.

66. 2 people having the same qualification, relatively the same knowledge, but the end result is much different when you network to show your talents. Getting know really does open doors and create great opportunities. Do not hide your talent and skills.

67. Brand perception makes 90 percent of the brand.

68. Twitter: robin_low Blog: http://blog.unleashyourbranding.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/socialhub LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlow88 Try out social media There is nothing to be afraid of