How to become an internet superstar…or at least feel like one Dallas Aggie Roundtable August 26, 2009

Google knows me

But only because I took control Google Profiles Bought my own domain name Staked claims on matthewringman as username on all the social networking sites that I could Joined all the networking groups that I felt like could benefit me in some way

So what’s your point? We live in a global economy The first thing people do now for job seekers is “Google” them Which means you have to have your name out there Finding an expert has become easier Becoming an expert has become easier Fill a hole in your employee roster easier

Get connected into the Global economy LinkedIn is an online network of more than 20 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.” —LinkedIn About LinkedIn “We securely host address books for more than 40 million people (and growing rapidly)” —Plaxo: About Us “Konnects has created over 350 city business networks around the globe, and over 80 unique industry networks” —Konnects: About Us

Becoming an expert Profiles let you give your resume in a more expanded way LinkedIn also has a “recommendation” system to get references that are immediately accessible and visible All of those people you helped over the years can give you praise in a very public way And if you use LinkedIn or VisualCV, you can have a public place for your portfolio (if you do not already have a domain of your own)

Finding a new job When you network, people can keep tabs on you if they thought you would be a good candidate eventually And the recommendations and connections that are visible on the profile give you instant references Which helped me land my job And I get requests for my resume occasionally from people who find my profile

My Life Examples I am quoted in one book because of discussions I started on one forum about the values of social networking Two other authors saw something on my LinkedIn profile and asked me to review their books and write a review on Amazon.com if I liked them I found a new job because of constant networking Part of the networking helped me improve my resume greatly Part of the networking got me the references on my profiles helped the recruiter sell me to his client I have learned ways to improve myself in business through talking with other people in supply chain that I would have not been able to find otherwise

Other Life Examples Friend is writing a book and posting a chapter every other month and has a good size following A former collegue started his own company and sells his book and services mainly through his blog A connection through LinkedIn has started helping others sell themselves with Twitter and LinkedIn and charges $500 just to get started And many people I know use Twitter especially the writers and ones who make a living doing public speaking engagements

So what does this mean to you? Many people of Generation Y are more tech based and are more comfortable with it The in-person relationships will never go away but social networking and internet self-marketing is becoming the norm instead of the exception for people and companies We are becoming more connected with the rest of the world but now do not have to go anywhere to do it Web meetings instead of in person meetings

Conclusion If a 27 year with 5 years of real business experience can sell himself by spending only $10 dollars on a website and a few hours? Why can’t a 37 year old with 15 years of experience and his own company? Or an entrepenur looking for his next company? Or a recent college grad? Or someone re-entering the workforce?

www.konnects.com www.linkedin.com www.ning.com www.visualcv.com www.facebook.com www.xing.com www.dallasblue.com www.plaxo.com

Questions about getting connected personally and for your company? Contact me at Matthew@ringman.org Find me at www.linkedin.com/in/matthewringman http://www.visualcv.com/matthewringman http://www.facebook.com/matthew.ringman