Are You Living and Breathing Your Employer Brand

Are You Living and Breathing Your Employer Brand It’s not easy to make sure that your employer brand is anywhere close to finis in fact, just when you think you have a handle on how to attract the top talent, you find out that the finish line has moved…and no one told you. Not only are there tons of ad agencies out there to assist talent acquisition professionals with their employer branding (EB) campaigns, there are research firms out there that tell you just what you should be saying, through which channels you should say it and precisely how you should say it. Dang, I got tired just typing that sentence! The truth is, every employer branding initiative starts somewhere and that’s with a list of goals and tasks a  checklist if you will. Simple questions that leadership must address before embarking on any new campaign (it’s the same in regular marketing and advertising believe me, it’s just hard to get the budget for a “cost center” like HR) include: 1) Who is going to be on the EB team? We suggest comms representatives, even if they aren’t in the HR department. Why? Because Marketing, PR and Corporate Communications are skilled at getting targeted messages across. You need them on your team. Representatives from other departments like legal and executive buy in are useful. Often overlooked are the tactical technical folks who can tell you how long it will take to complete this survey or snag an ad in that swanky publication so include someone from the frontlines. Also HR, duh. 2) Will you focus on existing employees? If the answer is no, sack your campaign now. Any successful EB campaign will focus on its current employees. Why? Because research shows that candidates (especially entry level ones) want to hear from them. It’s authentic and interesting and guess what? According to global research firm Universum, students are not interested in hearing from management, they want to see the people who work in positions similar to theirs. READ MORE:  Why  Employee Referrals  Are the Best Source of Hire [INFOGRAPHIC] 3) Is your culture in shambles? You don’t invite people to a party when your house is filthy and you should start shilling your corporate brand if it’s in tatters. If you have budget to burn, don’t waste it on EB, make sure you’ve got your house in order and THEN you can use the generated goodwill to jumpstart your employee centric branding campaign. 4) Have you figured out what success looks like? You best! If you don’t know what your KPIs are going into your campaign, you won’t know if it’s working or not. People often save this until the end of the conception stage, but that is, pardon my French, bass ackwards.   You need to know what you need to end up with in order to start with the right ingredients. People don’t throw three eggs, some flour and oil into a pan and wait excitedly to see what pops up in the oven. Instead they see that they need to end up with a lovely cake and work towards that. 5) Have you researched what success looks like in your space? Comparing your EB campaign to PepsiCo, Apple or Starbucks is stupid, unless you are Coke, Microsoft or Dunkin’ Donuts. Figure out your market, focus, (sensible) goals, budget and team. Work from there instead of trying to emulate someone who will beat you in every category. In Omaha, where I live, many great employers are known by WOMM (word of mouth marketing) despite some of the worst making Best Places to Work lists year after year. Figure out how you can reach the people you actually need to hire. What is your desired scope? Other questions to ask: Have you conducted research? Have you briefed your creative teams or agency? Have you spread the word about your brand to your (actual current) employees? Are you a brand ambassador? Have you secured brand ambassadors? Have you briefed all applicable partners? Do you have brand parameters that everyone is aware of? Do you have dashboard metrics that are transparent and accessible? Anymore questions that should be asked? Let us know in the comments below!

13 Ways to Give Your Brand the Spotlight in 2017 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

13 Ways to Give Your Brand the Spotlight in 2017 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The following answers are provided by members of  Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched  BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.   1. Engage in Thought Leadership   Position yourself as a thought leader in your space by authoring original content on industry trends and publishing it on your own blog, Medium or LinkedIn. Then, share it with your network.    Stephanie Kaplan Lewis,  Her Campus Media   2. Document Your Journey as an Entrepreneur   People like following a good success story and getting a behind the scenes look. Show all the cool stuff youre doing as a team by posting Snapchats, Facebook Live videos, or photos on Instagram. By documenting the growth of FenSens  this year, Ive been thankful to have numerous people reach out to try to help directly or indirectly connect me with somebody.    Andy Karuza,  FenSens   3. Give Before You Take   The best way to promote your personal brand is to proactively think of ways to help others. Instead of promoting yourself, focus on asking how you can help other people. You’ll be amazed at how much you enhance your personal brand by constantly thinking of ways  to help others.    Doug Bend,  Bend Law Group, PC   4. Get Quoted in Blog Posts, Magazines and News Articles   Demonstrate your expertise by working with bloggers, journalists and writers who cover your industry to provide them with newsworthy insights. This can be hard to do at first if you havent developed a strong enough personal brand. But once you start getting quotes published in reputable media outlets, youll soon be a highly sought-after expert in your field who writers, by default, reach out to.    Firas Kittaneh,  Amerisleep   5. Become Active in Your Community   Volunteer your time and be present at community activities. Show people that youre willing to help out without expecting anything in return. You could volunteer to speak at community meetings, chamber of commerce luncheons and other business gatherings, or even lead a class at a local college.    Nicole Munoz,  Start Ranking Now   6. Feature Your Content in Your Posts   If youre sharing other people’s content more than 10 percent of the time, stop. Your social media pages are your media. Use them for positioning your message. If you don’t know where to start, begin by creating a list of 25 questions your prospects tend to ask when you meet with them and answer them.      Kim Walsh-Phillips,  Elite Digital Group   7. Get Artistic   Your personal brand is the work you do and  your philosophical ideals. In 2017, I plan to combine my work and philosophy into art, and to document the process on my personal website. I cant think of anything more  representative of who you are and what you are capable of than art.    Peter Bonac,  Bonac Innovation Corp.   8. Build a Engaging Instagram Account   Getting on Instagram and using that to promote your personal brand is important. Curate quality content and thoroughly engage with your followers to really allow your account to grow. Your personal brand can easily be defined by your Instagram account and a couple scrolls through the feed can heavily affect your brand.    Leila Lewis,  Be Inspired PR   9. Promote With Podcasts   Podcasts are a great way to show the personal side of your personal brand and reach different audiences in a meaningful way. Additionally, they are great ways to build relationships with the hosts (who are usually well connected) in the process! By getting  guest slots on podcasts that fit your target market, you can make a lasting impression (and it  doesnt take long to record an episode).    Robby Berthume,  Bull Beard   10. Write Long-Form Content   Everyone blogs, and one more hot take or short advice piece will be lost in the deluge. Evidence-backed, long-form content that provides information of real value is far more likely to be shared, talked about and read. Instead of publishing four short articles a month, consider focusing on one high-value, evergreen piece of content that makes a valuable contribution to your audience’s lives.    Justin Blanchard,  ServerMania Inc.   11. Use Quora   The best tool I have found is  Quora.  I find questions in topics that I am an expert in and answer them with very specific and elaborate answers. The goal is to give them a link at the end of the answers to get more. Then, push them to a squeeze page to capture the readers information to continue to stay in front of them.    Tommy Mello,  A1 Garage Door Repair   12. Create Authentic, Original Content   We focus on strategic and creative original content that follows a consistent and thoughtful personal brand narrative. Focus on what your key brand line is and find creative ways to deliver that message that will speak to your audience while staying true to your voice. I have always found that authenticity is key.    Justin Lefkovitch,  Mirrored Media   13. Swing for the Fences   Only you define the boundary of your personal branding. For example, if you want to get onto The Today Show, reach out directly with a quality pitch and press kit. Quick success in personal branding is a function of two things: likability (Are you fun, engaging and intelligent?) and legitimacy (Do you have the brand names to back you up?). Craft a personal brand around these two concepts and go sell yourself!    Peter Kozodoy,  GEM Advertising  

Book Review How To Be An Infopreneur - VocationVillage

Book Review How To Be An Infopreneur - VocationVillage I think of the above proverb when I am tempted to kick myself for not learning about information product marketing earlier. I wish I had started twenty years ago rather than recently. However, I am glad I started because creating my first information product (Choosing Your Career: Proven Strategies for a Satisfying Life) has been a very rewarding experience.When I was first deciding whether I wanted to write a book, one of the people whose writing convinced me to forge ahead was Melanie Jordan, author of What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know!â„¢ .  Jordan is an infopreneur: an entrepreneur who earns money by selling information products. One thing I really like about Jordan is that she seems like a real person. She isnt some infomercial guru spouting hype and offering to teach you how to  sell snake oil so that you can make a fortune from gullible buyers.Jordan makes an extremely persuasive case that infopreneuring is an empowering way to earn a living and that everyone is an exp ert about something. Infopreneuring is open to people of all ages (no forced retirement!), you can live anywhere and work from home, the cost of entry is low, profit margins are high, there is unlimited income potential, and you can launch your infopreneur business in your free time from the safety of your current job. If you never want to quit your current job, you can use infopreneur income to pay for a childs college tuition, fund vacations, augment retirement, or contribute to worthy causes. Jordan doesnt make any get rick quick promises, but she does assure you that she can shorten your learning curve because she can warn you about a lot of the rookie mistakes that aspiring infopreneurs make. She recommends offering products in several different formats rather than sticking to just one favored choice, and she encourages infopreneurs to offer a full line of offerings from free to expensive.The book includes chapters on choosing your infopreneur topic, deciding on which product mix to create and sell, how to team up with others for mutual benefit, and building your infopreneur brand. Jordan gives specific tips about technical details like creating a blog and/or website, building an opt-in list (a database of potential customers), knowing when and how to cross-sell and up-sell, and how to effectively leverage both traditional and social media.What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know!â„¢ has so much information packed into it, it might feel overwhelming. My advice is to st art small. Use the advice to create something and then build from there. While it could take some time to develop a full product and service line offering, if you start today, you will accomplish more than if you wait a few years for the “perfect” time to launch.If you find this book review helpful, please share it!

Skin Tags What Are They and How Should You Deal With Them

Skin Tags What Are They and How Should You Deal With Them All of our bodies are built differently and there are certain aspects of our physical selves that some will have which others lack. Skin tags are one of these phenomena. But what actually are they? Are they potentially dangerous? Are they something that we have to keep and put up with if we find that we have developed them? These are questions that many of us find ourselves asking when we notice a skin tag. So, it’s time to get some answers. Read on for everything you could possibly need to know concerning skin tags! What Actually Is a Skin Tag? Chances are you’ve seen a skin tag at some point in your life, whether on yourself or another individual. They are relatively common. They are small, skin coloured growths that hang from the skin and slightly resemble warts. Generally speaking, they will vary between a few millimetres in diameter and up to around five centimetres (or two inches) wide. They are most commonly seen on the neck or in the armpits or groin. However, they can also be found on the eyelids or in the folds of an individual’s buttocks. Are Skin Tags Dangerous or a Sign of Illness? If what you have identified is definitely a skin tag, you needn’t worry. They are not dangerous and shouldn’t cause you any form of pain or discomfort. What Do They Contain? Skin tags are essentially made up of loose collagen fibres (a type of protein) and blood vessels. This explains why they will bleed if they are pulled or knocked too harshly. Can They Be Removed? While skin tags are not dangerous, you may not like the appearance of them, especially if they are in a particularly exposed part of your body. Occasionally you may find that they develop in inconvenient areas where they can get caught on clothing or jewellery. If they are affecting your confidence and self-esteem, or they are bothering you in any other way, you can look into removing skin tags. However, you should always contact your doctor first to find the best way to have this procedure carried out. Generally speaking, they will be frozen or burnt off with specialist equipment, much in the same way that warts are removed. Can They Be Prevented? While you can’t necessarily actively prevent the development of skin tags, it may be a good idea to bear in mind that they tend to develop in places where the skin rubs together. This is perhaps why they are more prominent in overweight individuals whose folds of skin tend to rub together more regularly. By maintaining a healthy weight, you are less likely to chafe and it is therefore less likely that these tags will develop on your body. As you can see, skin tags may seem unfamiliar, but they are by no means something to worry about. So, if you notice one developing, don’t panic. Simply visit your doctor who will be able to ensure that it is what you think it is with a simple diagnosis.

Resume Writing Refund - How to Protect Yourself Against Plagiarism

Resume Writing Refund - How to Protect Yourself Against PlagiarismIn today's world, if you have a resume, chances are, it will be plagiarized. Well, this article is here to tell you how to protect yourself and get a resume writing refund.Why do employers plagiarize resumes? The answer is simple: To get a cheap resume. Employers can't afford to pay thousands of dollars for a resume, so they'll just look for things they can find cheap and use them to rewrite your resume. This is why you need to learn how to prevent a resume from being plagiarized.Start by studying every word in your resume. Do a free online search to see if any words are common, and even write them down. Make sure that your resume has these common words that are a part of every resume.You will also want to make sure that the first and last lines of your resume are both a common word. This will help you against plagiarism. To do this, simply copy the line where you want to go with your cursor. Once you have copied the l ine, you will want to press the tab key on your keyboard to see what comes up.Take note of what comes up for each word. This will help you write a new resume, but you want to make sure you don't waste time rewriting your resume. Make sure that your resume is your masterpiece, and you will get a resume writing refund.It is a bad idea to include the entire information on your resume. If you don't have all of the information required for a certain position, you can still get a resume writing refund. Most employers only require information that will fit the job position. So, make sure that you don't leave out important information, and do the best you can with what is given to you.Your resume should focus on the skills that are needed for the job. If you are applying for a job as a carpet cleaner, you will want to include the following skills: house cleaning, carpet cleaning, house cleaning, and more house cleaning.Writing a resume is easy, but if you want to avoid a resume writing refu nd, make sure that you have the basics covered. You will always want to look at common words that are used in resumes and write them down. Doing so will help you avoid the plagiarism scam and getting a resume writing refund.

Marketing Materials Every Company Needs

Marketing Materials Every Company Needs Marketing has and always will be a critical part for any company. From large international companies to smaller local-based firms, marketing is critical as it can help you bring in a whole load more clients and customers, which can help improve the success of your business. Not only that, though, but it really helps improve the visibility of your organization in the public world. Sure, you will no doubt have a few different marketing strategies and campaigns in mind that will help you to give your company a little boost. But have you got all of the best marketing materials to back up your campaigns? These are the ones that every company needs. Business Cards You might not think of your business cards as a marketing material, but they really are. So, be sure that you don’t overlook them. Ideally, you need to get everyone in your team their own set of business cards, but if that will strain your budget somewhat, then you should just get some for yourself and your top-level managers. A Company Brochure Do you not have a company brochure let? If not, you should view Design Brand Print and check out their great printing deals so that you can get some printed as soon as possible. You can then hand out these brochures to your customers and clients so that they get a good overview of your company and the various services and products that you offer. This brochure should provide people with everything that they need to know about your company so that they don’t waste any time trying to find answers to their questions. Letterheads Even though the majority of us no rely on instant messaging apps and email to contact people in the business world, there is still a strong need for typed and handwritten letters. In some situations, they are that bit more professional than relying on electronic communication services. But before you do start sending out any letters to important people, you need to make sure that they are correctly decorated with your company’s letterhead. This should include your logo and branding. Thank You Cards There might be some times when you want to send certain clients or customers thank you cards. If this is regularly the case, you should get some printed with your logo and business branding. This gives you the chance to show all of your clients and customers that you really appreciate their business. Plus, it will put you in their good books, which will make them a lot more likely to return to you further down the line. A Website Even though traditional marketing materials are still very important, it would be unwise to rely heavily on these and forget about modern methods. So, be sure to make sure your website is always as good as it could be, as this is the perfect opportunity to show off your business and skills. Once you have all of the above marketing materials, you will find that your company becomes a force to be reckoned with!

How To Use Instagram for Job Search

How To Use Instagram for Job Search Instagram is the popular photo-sharing social media platform. But why would you want to use it for your job search? If you are already on Instagram, consider using it to build your personal brand and online visibility. And to connect with potential employers (who also are using Instagram). Instagram is just one more place online you can tell your career story and develop a valuable network. Sure LinkedIn is a recruiters top choice in most cases, but here are some reasons why Instagram is becoming more important. Instagram shows your life outside of work. It shows your interests and personality. You already use Instagram to connect with friends (who could help you network into a job) Instagram is another way to build (and spread) your personal reputation. Companies are using Instagram to show what life is like at their company Recruiters are using Instagram to attract candidates. So how many recruiters are checking you out on Instagram? It depends on the type of talent they are looking for. Jobvite reported that 25% of recruiters are investing in recruiting efforts on Instagram. While this number isnt huge, it is just one more resource you should know how to leverage. Why Instagram? What exactly do recruiters hope to accomplish on Instagram? First, they want to attract potential candidates. Second, they want to learn more about candidates. To attract candidates, employers post day-in-the-life photos, Learning about a candidate is often difficult on LinkedIn. Profiles often read exactly like a resume. So to learn more about applicants, recruiters turn to social media. They want to see if candidates are a culture fit and learn about their hobbies and interests to get a full picture of who they are. To learn more about what employers evaluate on social media, read Social Media Used To Evaluate Job Seekers 2018.   Your Instagram Profile If you are actively job seeking and want to impress recruiters, then pimp your Instagram profile. Headshot matchup Use the same headshot on Instagram as you used on LinkedIn. This makes it easier for people to recognize you. Just an FYI, use a good quality photo of your head and neck. Look at the camera and smile. Your Bio You have 150 characters to convey who you are professionally and personally. Be sure you use similar wording as you used on LinkedIn (Twitter or Facebook) so the reader knows you are the same person. You could explain what youre Instagram account is all about or you could use a version of your pitch. You can even include emojis to add visual appeal. If you want, you can include a live  link in the body of your  profile with a call to action such as: View my LinkedIn profile here: [insert your LinkedIn URL]. Or if you want, you can add it to the website section instead. Need more help deciding what to put in your bio? Check out: How To Build A Better Bio. Your Link Your bio allows you to link to a website. Include your personal website or if you dont have one, you can list your LinkedIn URL. The idea is to list a page that provides someone with more and better information about you. What To Post Be sure you have given some thought to what you will share on Instagram. Keep in mind, this can be a blend of personal and professional updates. If you are creating an image, remember the image must be square and best dimensions for an Instagram post are 1080 X 1080 pixels. These are some ideas of what you can share as updates on Instagram that will help reinforce your personal brand and showcase your interests. Photos of you attending an event. (Or just take a picture of the event sign). Samples of your work (screenshot or photo) Your resume  or part of your resume (screenshot or photo) You volunteering Capture places youve visited Photos from a day in your life Show your interests, hobbies, or sports you participate in Regrams (shared photos from other Instagram accounts) Motivational quotes Videos are also great for sharing on Instagram. Create a quick job tip, share your pitch or backstory, or talk about an event you are attending or volunteering with. What To Say Adding the photo is just the first step. Your next step is to write about the photo you are sharing. Describe why its important or interesting. Ask a question or ask for feedback. Try including emojis to emphasize a point and make your post more interesting to read. You have approximately 2,200 characters to use in your Instagram post. But you certainly dont need to use them all. There are additional things you should add to your post on Instagram as well. Use Hashtags Once youve uploaded your photo or video, explain what its about. You can use hashtags to categorize your post. Hashtags are searchable on Instagram so make sure you are using the appropriate ones. Tag People Consider tagging a company you are interested in to let them know about an event you are attending or show how you are using their product or service. Companies monitor their accounts and can see when youve tagged them. Tagging is also a good way to say thanks to people in your network or people you want to meet. In order to tag someone, just type the @ and then type their name or Instagram handle in the text box. Assess Your Profile page Take a second and look at your overall Instagram profile page. What story do your photos tell? Do the images youve shared provide a solid representation of your personality and personal and professional interests? The first impression is often a lasting impression so make sure it is the right one! What Else Should You Do? Follow the company and/or career accounts of companies you are interested in. Find and follow other accounts related to your career aspirations. See who people in your network are following by click on their following button. Search relevant hashtags to find new people/brands to follow. These are the basics to help get you started using Instagram for job search. PS: Im on Instagram so you can follow me there for more ideas for your job search  Follow @careersherpa