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Welcome to Jon Michail’s Personal Branding Masterclass. Jon is the founder and CEO of image group international, an award-winning image consulting and personal branding pioneer established in 1989. This podcast will bring you old-school wisdom, inspiring ideas, strategies and hacks for the new tech world. Here you will learn everything about personal branding: the system, the techniques and the right mindset to have a successful personal brand, image and reputation.

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Hello, everybody, and welcome back to my show. I am your host, John Michael, and I appreciate your presence here today. Before we start, I kindly ask you to connect with me on social media. My Twitter handle is John Michael, my LinkedIn profile is under John Michael, and you can find me as Image Group International on Facebook. Now let's get down to business. Today we're discussing a topic that's essential in today's digital landscape, but only if you decide to be part of it. Meaning if you're going to be on social media, if you're going to be in the digital world, then you've got to become aware of it. If you're just going to be cruising along and not having a real interest in it, maybe this particular program's not going to be of any interest to you. The subject today is leveraging social media for professional networking, or otherwise in our world, what we call real connected connections. So according to Forbes, citing some research here, in 2023, an estimated 4.9 billion people used social media across the world. And what's more, this number is expected to jump to approximately 5.85 billion users by 2027. So what we're talking about here is at least three-quarters, if not more, of the global population using social media of some description. These users, though, aren't just tied to a single platform; on average, the typical user now spreads their digital footprint across a staggering six to seven platforms every month, highlighting the need for a multi-platform approach to social media marketing. That's not what I'm going to be focusing on today; I'm probably only going to speak about one or two social media companies today. But definitely, this is the trend. So we know that in this fast-paced, interconnected digital world, social media has become a powerhouse for building business and career relationships. And this is important; it's essential, especially for anyone who is interested in growing their career, of course, growing their business, and of course, their personal brands. This is essential if you're in a world of, let's say, safety, public service-oriented positions where you've got tenure, all that sort of thing, maybe this is not that important for you, unless, of course, you're into thought leadership. So keep those distinctions in mind. Because something is really, really important doesn't mean it impacts or affects every single person out there, even if they are using the particular medium. So this is about expanding your influence and, of course, unlocking new opportunities. So with so many platforms and strategies to consider, of course, it's also very easy to get overwhelmed. That's why I want to keep it simple today and focus on one or two. The reason I want to break this down for you also is to share some actionable steps for making also the most of your social media presence if you already are using it. And as we know, from the stats, most likely you are. First, if you're going to use social media, it's crucial to optimize your profiles across the platforms that you have a presence on. So the last thing you want to do is have a profile with your image updated and very little information, and there's no interaction or nothing has happened on it for the last three years. So the most used social media platform in the world is, of course, Facebook; they have around 2.9 billion monthly active users. And for your business in Korea, it's LinkedIn, and LinkedIn has over 830 million members worldwide. More than 70% of LinkedIn users are from outside the US. So LinkedIn reports that it sees two new members join every second. Imagine that, imagine having a business where you get two new clients every second or potential clients. The platform is available in 24 languages and caters to a diverse global audience. So 57% of LinkedIn users are male, while 43% are female. So as you can see, by the stats, it's definitely great for career building and, of course, business, and I don't mean quick, tacky sales lead generation; I'm talking about building solid reputations with gravitas.

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Remember that our profile online is often the first impression people make. So potential connections will certainly see that, and of course, it will reflect how authentic your personal brand is. And to do that, it's about highlighting your values, your expertise, and of course, accomplishments, the results you have achieved. So let me explain to you the top wise, what I would call that matter, one by one from a social media point of view. I already started off with first impressions. So yes, first impressions matter; they mattered last year, they matter today, and they're going to matter tomorrow. In the digital age, your online profile often serves as the initial introduction to potential employers, clients, and of course, collaborative partners. So you don't get a second chance that you might get in an offline meeting. And what that means is because you haven't had an opportunity to fix up that particular first impression, like you can in an initial meeting, in your office, for instance, or a coffee shop. So that's why you've got to get that right because it's fairly static. So we know that a strong first impression, of course, can influence people's perception of your professionalism and suitability for opportunities. That's why it matters. Number two, it showcases your expertise. A detailed profile that highlights your values, again, skills, experiences, and accomplishments establishes your authority in the field. That's certainly a first step; it actively helps you to stand out and be recognized as a knowledgeable and credible professional. If you're worried about standing out, what I say to you about that is remember, some of my most successful clients have been introverts. Standing out does not mean being flashy, you know, and arrogant and all of that image basically getting noticed, getting recognized. So how are you going to do that if you don't stand out? You've got to have to put yourself certainly a little bit out there. That's if you, again, hope to achieve some of the things we've already mentioned. Number three, it reflects your authentic personal brand. Okay, make sure it does that; your profile is a reflection of your personal brand. That's it; it's your reputation. It communicates not only what you do but also who you are and what you stand for. So this alignment between your personal values and professional identity can and does, in my experience, attract connections that share similar values or professional interests. Now, this is depending on what business you're in and is specific to business right now. Of course, some businesses you don't care about what connections you get; they're more interested than just doing a sale. Some businesses definitely care about the connections they get because, you know, if they're in a relational-type business, they have to know in a service business, etc. We know that the right connections, of course, leverage opportunities, you know, as opposed to a transaction or a sale on Amazon, it's totally different than, of course, building long-term relationships, especially if you're in the service business. Number four, it also unlocks networking opportunities. A well-curated profile facilitates networking by providing potential connections with enough intentional information. And I'm really intentional here, not talking anything random, to engage in meaningful conversations. It can and does open doors to new business opportunities, of course, collaborations, and career prospects. I can tell you that because of walking the talk here; we're an example of that in our own business and, of course, our clients. Number five, it attracts opportunities that you might not have considered. Now from a career point of view, obviously, recruiters and hiring managers search LinkedIn; it's overtaken recruitment as a tool, you know, and other platforms, of course, to find candidates for open positions. So, you know, a well-crafted profile that includes relevant keywords, and these keywords are relevant because of search and, of course, algorithms. So it's not only about these days; it's not only about being really good at what you do, but you also have to cater for the algorithms, the platforms because if you're undo that, you're not going to be found. So this is very important. Number six, it also builds credibility and trust, and where would we be without credibility and trust? That's why leaders from the largest organizations on the planet have a profile and active posting on LinkedIn. So this is very important. So basically, if the winners are already doing this, especially from a business career perspective, why wouldn't you be thinking of doing something similar? 

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They know it works. Bottom line, that's the relevance of this. So when your profile is consistent, though, detailed, and up-to-date detailed meaning as per the messaging you want to promote to the world and up-to-date, it builds trust. And this is the bottom line. So building genuine relationships on social media requires more than just broadcast and, of course, your own achievements, although it's also part of that you get to also engage with others, share valuable content, and of course, cultivate meaningful connections. Sorry, mind that consistency is the key if you're going to be in the game, you better play. Otherwise, you're just like a participator that's sitting in the stands. And sitting in the stands is not where the game is played. So building a strong presence on social media, of course, takes time; it takes some effort, of course, guaranteed. So make sure you're consistently putting high-quality content. And of course, engage with the audience and by high-quality content. I mean this, I mean thought leadership, not motherhood statements. And this is important with, of course, with AI so prominent right now. Even responses, you know, I can't stand AI responses; I really can't stand them. If you're going to connect and you want to build a relationship with me long-term, you can't have a machine doing this for you. If you want to build authentic relationships, if you want to build just you know, what I would call superficial surface-level relationships, that's a different story. That's not what I'm focusing on. And that's not what I engage in. Anyway, whether it's sharing industry insights, highlighting yours, of course, and your clients' achievements, great to share your clients' achievements or your thought leadership and experiences. That consistency is key to stay on top of mind with your network because people's attention spans have shrunk because of the overpopulated noise of the digital world. And finally, remember to listen and I mean really listen to what people are saying. Social media is a two-way street. So take the time to listen to what others in your network are saying be proactive in seeking out opportunities, of course, to connect and collaborate. This is very, very important because this way is the way you will grow. So ensuring that your profile accurately and effectively communicate your personal brand values and professional capabilities essential in leveraging digital platforms to enhance your career or business and, of course, expand your professional network. So if you stay true to your personal brand, you can leverage social media to expand your professional network, definitely increase your influence, and unlock new opportunities for growth and success. If you do this properly, this is what is promised to you. Of course, if you're undo it properly, you can get addicted to basically posting them before you know they can actually do damage to, as opposed to, you know, give you great benefits. So hopefully, I've shared with you some insights today that were valuable. I thank you again for listening. And I hope I honestly sincerely hope that you did find this episode valuable. If you're ready to take your authentic personal brand or your personal brand to authenticity, what I call the next level and need my help, please contact patricia.bosa@imagegroup.com.au - Until next time, cheerio

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Jon Michail’s Personal Branding Masterclass Podcast is sponsored by Image Group International, a global team of practical, digitally savvy personal brand and image strategists based in Australia, committed to maximizing your impact, influence and authority in the business world. To learn more and apply for your personal coaching, seminars and group workshops, please visit imagegroup.com.au or call 1800 631 311.