10 Reasons you need a digital you

• You are your own brand. Jobs will come and go but the brand that stays with you forever is you. Today the way you, as a brand, show up online is as important as the way you show up in person.
• Your online footprint is a reflection of who you are, what you've done and what you'd like to do.
• If you don't tell the story you want people to find - Google will.
• 94 percent of recruiters use or plan to use social media in their recruitment efforts.
• Prospective clients, employers and business opportunities are searching for you -- online -- in advance of a meeting just as they do with any major purchase.
• The lack of a digital presence sends a signal you may have something to hide.
• Traditional resumes are a formality. They don't engage -- they bore.
• Sharing is the new currency in a digital world. Your digital presence allows you to share your views and relevant content with like minded people and to position yourself as an expert and influencer. It's an opportunity to grow your business and expand your networks.
• The line is increasingly blurred between professional you and personal you. You may run your company -- but your company's brand presence alone is not enough.
• First impressions still count. The difference is now they happen on line.

The reality is, no matter who you are, business professional to entrepreneur, CEO to salesperson, your digital you opens doors, creates new connections and keeps you marketable and relevant. It deserves your time.



Joanne Tombrakos, Storyteller. Marketing and Sales Consultant. Adjunct Professor at NYU. Huffington Post