How to Build a Strong Digital Presence for Career Advancement

Most people in tech believe career growth is all about getting better at your craft. And don’t get me wrong- skills do matter. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: It’s not just about how good you are. It’s about who knows how good you are. Some of the most talented engineers I’ve worked with stayed stuck in the same role for years, not because they weren’t skilled, but because no one outside their immediate circle knew the impact they were making. Meanwhile, others who actively shared their work, spoke at events, collaborated publicly, or mentored others; they became the names that came up in rooms they weren’t even in yet. That’s what visibility does. For me, building visibility has looked like: 🤝 Sharing what I’m learning- not just what I already know. Posting takeaways from AI research papers, experiments with new tools, and real-world lessons from building systems. 📱Posting behind-the-scenes of projects, including the messy drafts. Sharing wins is easy. Sharing your process builds trust. 🎤 Speaking at meetups, podcasts, and panels Every small talk leads to bigger rooms. It’s all about building reps, and getting more people hear your thoughts. 📚Turning complex technical ideas into simple frameworks. Think: diagrams, cheat sheets, carousels. If people can learn from you easily, they’ll remember you. 🌎 Collaborating publicly and giving credit. Tag teammates, mention mentors, share lessons learned together. Visibility is not a solo game. 👩🏫 Mentoring early-career professionals. Teaching makes your knowledge visible, and it pays forward the support you once needed. 📝 Documenting your journey authentically. Not just “look at this big launch,” but “here’s what I learned this week,” or “here’s where I’m stuck and what I’m trying next.” 👥 Being active in the community- both online and offline. Whether it’s commenting on posts, joining Slack groups, or attending AI meetups, showing up consistently makes a difference. It’s not about becoming a “thought leader.” It’s about becoming someone people remember when opportunities come up. Because at the end of the day: Skill × Visibility = Career Growth If you’re already learning, building, and solving problems, start showing it ❤️ That’s how you grow beyond your current role.

Swap “Open to work” for “Showcasing Your Work.” I get the eagerness to secure a position. Often, you might think broadcasting your job hunt and desires is the way. But here’s the catch: 1. Relying blindly on LinkedIn’s algorithm to draw viewers to your profile. 2. Not proactively engaging with individuals who could unlock opportunities. It’s akin to announcing an event in your city on Facebook just once, hoping for a crowd. The key? Aggressively market yourself, targeting companies you aspire to join. When I embraced this, interviews flowed in, and I landed my job! Here’s your game plan: Introducing the LUMM - Level Up Marketing Method. 1. Share your projects on LinkedIn, highlighting the challenges you overcame. 2. Distribute these projects to every recruiter and company you’ve encountered, keeping them in the loop with your advancements. The essence of step 2? Remain visible and top-of-mind. 3. Imagine applying for a job and then researching the recruiter. Present your projects to them, demonstrating your abilities, while informing them of your application. Here’s the difference: 👇🏾👇🏾 Option A: You tell me about your services and leave a card. Option B: You present your portfolio, addressing my specific needs because you’ve researched me. Which one seals the deal? An extra tip: Advance to a job interview’s next stage? Try sending your projects to the interviewing team or individual, aligning them with the required skills. Adopt this strategy and watch your job prospects soar. This is the path to lucrative roles, to becoming a standout star. Now, conversations revolve around your accomplishments, not just potential capabilities. You’re welcome!

3 strategies I use to grow my personal brand (because every professional needs one!). Hi I’m Jen, a lawyer turned full-time travel writer and content creator 👋 Establishing a personal brand that highlights your expertise in a given topic or skill is the best way to create your own job security. Here are 3 things I do consistently to stay visible and relevant in travel and digital media: 1️⃣ Get cited as an expert When there’s breaking news in your field, are you someone that comes to mind for journalists and reporters as a potential commentator? If not, you can be! Outlets like SOS and Qwoted — and even just using the “journorequest” hashtag on X — allow you to pitch your knowledge to media looking for experts. I completed back-to-back phone interviews with Women’s Day Magazine last week! 2️⃣ Appear as a guest on podcasts Podcasts are a great way to build your audience and reputation since you have a listener base that already trusts the host. I find interview opportunities through sites like PodcastGuests.com and have also sent pitches by finding the host’s information on the show page. I was just on the Bon Voyage Besties podcast a few days ago, the same day my interview on the Profitable Travel Blogger podcast went live, and my next podcast interview is this coming Tuesday. Podcasts are evergreen content that will continue to get downloads long after you finish the interview, and will show up on Google search results. Which leads me to my final point… 3️⃣ Build and maintain an online presence Do you have a Google Knowledge Panel? This is something you can claim and manage. If you’re a journalist, are you making sure your Muckrack account is up to date? Travel content creators, are you posting your wins on TravMedia? Social media accounts aren’t frivolous — they could lead to paid clients and even billboards (I would know!). Your online presence is free advertising for your unique skills and qualifications, with the potential to reach millions of eyeballs through one click. I’ve grown my social accounts to over 400,000 followers, generating 100M+ lifetime views. I help others grow their personal brands through private coaching, brand and DMO consulting, keynote speaking, and interactive workshops. Don’t neglect your personal brand! It is a game changer. #PersonalBranding #ThoughtLeadership #VisibilityMatters #TravelIndustry #DigitalMedia #ContentCreator

I met with a college senior facing today's brutal job market — her struggle revealed the career strategy most professionals are still missing. I had coffee with a Skidmore senior last week who landed a job — but only after applying to hundreds of positions. She asked me, "What advice would you give your younger self about standing out?" My answer? Build a web presence — immediately. When I was job hunting post college, I had to learn WordPress code. It took hours of troubleshooting to build my online presence. Today? You can launch a professional site in an afternoon. Yet most professionals — not just new grads — are still hyper-focused on: - Polishing resumes - Work experience bullets - Awards and honors that mean little in the market (GPA, company trophies) Here's the key point: after your resume opens the door, recruiters and hiring managers start Googling you. In the final interview stages, the search results become key. What shows up in can set you apart. Pro tip: Don't wait to be discovered. Include your website, portfolio, or digital projects directly in your application materials. In that case, you're literally inviting them to see the work that sets you apart. What struck me most from my coffee with this soon-to-be grad? This lesson from the tough job market is for everyone — new grads to experienced executives. We're obsessing over the wrong things while neglecting what actually makes us discoverable. You don't need anything fancy to start: - A simple portfolio site (Squarespace, Wix, etc.) - Or even just an optimized LinkedIn profile that tells your story I hate saying "I broke into tech" — but in my case, I absolutely did. And my digital presence was the key that unlocked that door and continues to help me every time I level up my career.

Have you ever Googled yourself? I decided to search for myself the other day to see what the latest was… As a keynote speaker on professional presence, I am a huge advocate when it comes to your presence — not just in-person, but online, too. When I first started my business, I did a search for how to get a Google Knowledge Card because a few different people with my same name would pop up in the results. Unfortunately it’s not something you can just apply for. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a recent search of myself pulled up a Google Knowledge Card! This means when people search for me, they find me and can easily learn more about me and see what I have to offer: → My website with my services → Videos of my speaking engagements  → The social media channels where I build my presence Why does this matter? A well-managed online presence increases your discoverability online. Potential opportunities can find you, not the other way around! And you are making sure that it’s the YOU that you want others to see and know you for. If you’re ready to take control of your online presence, here are some of my top tips: ✅ Show up online.  While I do think a lot of people will look at your LinkedIn first, having a website — even a simple one — can help establish credibility and give people another spot to discover and learn about you. ✅ Share your expertise in snack-sized chunks.  People are busy! To avoid overwhelming people with lengthy content, you can focus on creating bite-sized pieces of valuable information you can share online. ✅ Engage with your audience.  Social media isn't a one-way street! Don't just post and disappear. Instead, respond to comments, answer questions, and build relationships. Building a strong online presence takes time and effort, but the payoff is HUGE. Visit https://lnkd.in/gKkZRCTE to explore my Google Knowledge Card and learn more about how I can help you build a powerful professional presence. #LinkedIn #ExecutivePresence #ProfessionalPresence