Establishing a robust online presence has become crucial for business leaders. Whether it’s engaging with fellow industry professionals or connecting with customers and clients, a personal presence online is expected. However, navigating the vast digital landscape can be overwhelming, especially for those who are new to building their online reputation.
Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members share their best tips to help business leaders boost their online presence and reputation. Their collective wisdom uncovers standout strategies that can pave the way for success in the virtual realm.
1. Post Measured And Thoughtful Content
It’s more important to post measured, thoughtful content that creates value than to post every day. Keep business topics to business platforms (like LinkedIn) and personal topics to social media platforms (like Instagram). Try not to be controversial and stick to the things you have domain expertise in. – David Nugent, Next League
2. Showcase Your Life And Personality
You don’t have to hide your personality, as that’s often what makes you interesting to work with. Include how various facets of your life affect your work and life. We are all seeking that fabled work-life balance, so it’s nice to see how others live in their day-to-day lives to gain insight on how to do the same or something different. Always make sure you speak to your expertise and highlight your wins! – Ronjini Joshua, The Silver Telegram
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3. Establish Yourself As A Credible Authority
One tip to help a business leader build their online presence is to create valuable content that showcases their expertise. These can be blog posts, social media content, videos or podcasts. By sharing thought-provoking and informative content, they can establish themselves as a credible and knowledgeable authority, which can help attract new clients and foster engagement with their peers. – Nilesh Parmar, NP Collective
4. Showcase Your Superpowers And Passions
One tip I would share to help a business leader build their online presence and reputation is to consistently create authentic and value-driven content that allows them to showcase their superpower. Create content that you are passionate about and get real with your online audience. Relatability is key, so share your personal stories, experiences and lessons learned. – Jaclynn Brennan, Fylí
5. Be Interesting
Don’t be boring. Either be interesting or don’t do anything. Being boring is worse than being quiet. – Neil Bearden, Neil Bearden
6. Encourage Online Reviews
A tip I try to share with business leaders regarding their online presence and reputation is to encourage their customer base to leave reviews online, including the occasional negative ones. Unless it’s a blatantly false statement, transparency goes a long way with clients. Allowing potential new partnerships to do their due diligence while also being able to answer their questions is key. – Dana Neiger, HIVE Talent Acquisition Firm
7. Take A Stance
Know what you have to say and then say it. In the age of generative AI, an authentic and informed perspective about topics in your industry is vital. LinkedIn is a great platform to connect, learn from others’ unique perspectives and share your own. But, in order to stand out in crowded and often noisy spaces, you have to take a stance. – Tyler Christiansen, Funnel
8. Remember Your End Goal
One tip is to be consistent and relevant in online publishing. It is essential to begin with a clear vision of what you aim to achieve when you deploy your plan online. These are key factors when engaging with your audience through online platforms. By keeping the end goal in mind, you create a sense of reliability and build trust with your audience. – Francisco Ramirez, The ACE Group (TAG)
9. Backup Your Knowledge With DataUse data to back up what you know. Using facts and figures from reputable sources gives context to your opinions and experiences. As you build your online presence, this will help build trust with new people, showing them that you’re the expert in your industry. Leaders who don’t do this either come across as untrustworthy or arrogant in their opinions. – Jess Shanahan, Jet Social
10. Be Clear And Authentic
Be clear, focused and authentic. Treat it as a long-term investment by building it gradually and carefully. In the current social and digital context, having advised and managed dozens of senior executives worldwide, being hasty, getting carried away or projecting a different persona than what is real will do more harm than good. Also, define boundaries between professional and personal online social profiles clearly. – Xavier Prabhu, PRHUB
11. Engage In Industry Conferences And Discourse
It is imperative to actively engage in industry conferences as a speaker or panelist and contribute to the scholarly discourse through publications of articles or op-eds. Forging alliances with fellow industry leaders is crucial for fostering collaboration. Continuous visibility is essential and this necessitates a commitment to remaining at the forefront by pushing the boundaries of innovation. – Ali El Husseini, Medici Land Governance
12. Stay Consistent
Consistently share relevant and valuable content. This is arguably one of the most effective ways to build your online presence and reputation. Regularly publishing relevant and informative content positions you as a thought leader in your industry. This content can take the form of blog posts, articles, social media updates, podcasts, webinars or any format that your audience prefers. – Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato, Zama
13. Be Yourself
Be your authentic self when posting. This means that you should talk about work but also a bit about life, as the more honest and the more authentic you are, the better the outcome. People want to know the real you. There are many social media experts that can do this for you, but nobody else can be you, so be sure to give it your touch. – Marianella Manzur, Joorney Business Plans
14. Know Your Audience
Social media is one of the greatest tools that we all commonly share at our disposal. The greatest way to build a reputation online is by knowing the exact audience you are creating content for. Once you understand your audience you can craft content specifically tailored towards that persona. From there, your positive messages will resonate and spread, resulting in a stronger presence. – Christian Brown, Glewee
15. Limit Your Active Profiles
Pick only one or two social media venues where you’ll be active. If you are on all social media channels trying to be visible to all sectors, you’ll end up spreading yourself too thin. It’s better if people just know that you’ll often be on Twitter, for example, but not on Instagram or other platforms. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures
16. Give Valuable Insights
Give true and valuable insights about the industry, service or product, as well as innovative approaches like the implementation of AI, IoT, cloud solutions and more. This can help build true value for the business leader’s audience while also building the online presence. – Oleksandra Rostovtseva, Altamira
17. Employ SEO Experts
Employ search engine optimization (SEO) expert help. Just like in the Yellow Pages days, an essential part of garnering business is that the potential customer can find you in the first place. An SEO agency can help you write bios, target specific key phrases customers search for and ensure you’re prepped for success. Update and maintain these pages regularly with strategically optimized posts. – Chris Gerlach, Synergy Life Science
18. Share How You Can Solve Challenges
Create a signature model or system for overcoming important challenges that people have. Then share it using the extensive digital multimedia channels that’s available, such as blogs, podcasts, courses, speeches, etc. People have their media preferences, so to reach a wide audience, you need to be present in their media. Focus your ideas on practical steps people can take to improve their lives. – Jerry Cahn, Age Brilliantly
19. Be Transparent
Prioritize authenticity. Be genuine in your online interactions, express your true values and maintain consistency in your messaging. This will build trust and credibility among fellow industry leaders, customers and clients. By being transparent and authentic, you establish a strong personal brand that resonates with your audience and sets you apart in the digital age. – Myrtle Anne Ramos, Block Tides
20. Prioritize Two-Way Communication
Be visible and communicative. Use professional social media platforms to share news, progress, wins, inspiration and any valuable content. It’s important to not limit yourself to one-way communication. Comment on other posts and reply quickly. Staying in front of people across your organization, clients and industry contacts shows that you’re hands-on, available and present. – Adam Povlitz, Anago Cleaning Systems
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