Decision Makers: These are people who have a major impact on your being able to reach your goals. This category includes people like hiring managers and senior leaders. It includes people who are instrumental in your current career activities and future career success. It also includes the people who influence those decision makers.

How do I make sure the real and the virtual work together to keep me visible, available, and valuable to the people who are making decisions about me?

This is especially important for people with common names or who share names with celebrities. It focuses on your ability to stand out from others who have the same name.

Personal branding is not a onetime event. You change, the work landscape changes. Everything around you changes. Your brand must evolve to remain relevant.

What others think counts. Your brand is held in the hearts and minds of those around you.

It’s your graphic designer. It helps you paint a 3D portrait of the value you create. LinkedIn now allows you to integrate images or videos into your profile summary and experience, making it a true multimedia portfolio of who you are, what you have to offer, and why your work is valuable.

The first person is powerful because it is more transparent and personal—and when someone reads your bio, it’s like having a conversation with you.

It’s your salesperson. If you’re looking to get in to see a client or potential business partner, your complete and compelling profile can make the difference between being invited to pitch and having a door closed in your face.

The Expertise Economy: How the Smartest Companies Use Learning to Engage, Compete, and Succeed, “The one-size-fits-all mentality of corporate education is no longer relevant. Learning needs to be customized for each individual based on their skill and knowledge gaps, personal and professional goals, and specific interests.” That puts the onus on yo