Positioning Yourself for Future Success — Madeleine A. Cohen

Talking Trends
4 min readJul 30, 2024

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Image by benzoix on Freepik

Have you Googled yourself lately? If not, now is the time to do so. Are the results of your search indicative of who you are? More importantly, do they position you to achieve your next goal? Your online persona should reflect your values and expertise, showcasing your accomplishments, but with a future-forward emphasis. It takes deliberate work to make sure that every element accurately reflects your brand and professional objectives.

Let us start by making an important distinction. Your online presence encompasses much more than your social media accounts. It includes your professional profiles, published content, and interactions across multiple platforms. Each facet should tell a cohesive story about who you are.

Think about how you introduce yourself when you first meet someone. Using your job title will likely restrict you to one aspect of your brand. This may be detrimental if you are looking for a promotion or altering your line of work. For example, if I present myself as a director of business development I may miss out on an opportunity to use my storytelling skills.

To accurately represent who you are you first need to define your personal brand. What are your values? What is your area of expertise? Once that is done, identify your target audience — the people you need to reach if you are to take that next step in your career. Then ensure you are consistently conveying your brand in every communication, including business emails and social media posts. This will build trust. To make sure your brand’s external perception is in line with your vision, ask your peers for feedback. Should disparities arise, modify your correspondence and substance to more accurately represent your objectives and principles.

Additionally, you need to provide evidence of your brand. Part of building your credibility is presenting proof that you are who you say you are. You can achieve this in a variety of ways. Create content on your own or collaborate with others. Take part in established conferences or podcasts. By sharing your insights and experiences, you reinforce your expertise and provide value to your audience. This in turn may pave the way for new opportunities.

Engaging proactively with your existing network is crucial. Post your content on LinkedIn and other platforms, and make sure to like, share, and comment on others’ posts. In addition to making you more visible, thoughtful contributions to discussions show that you are knowledgeable about the latest issues. This is especially important if you are attempting to switch industries. Highlight your cross-industry skills — those that will transfer from your existing work to your desired future role.

Building a strong online presence takes time and effort. Remember, your digital persona is an evolving narrative. Regularly update your profiles and share new content to stay current and relevant. Keep in mind that your brand will evolve over time. Revisit your goals and tweak your communication as and when needed.

A well-defined personal brand and strategic online presence can have a significant impact on your professional success. Shape it intentionally to chart your course toward your next career milestones. Your story is powerful, and by taking control of it, you can ensure it tells the world not just what you do, but who you are.

A marketing and communications strategist, Madeleine A. Cohen has produced global trade shows and conferences from ideation to execution, and has extensive experience as an editor and writer. At Signitt, she leverages her expertise to help women and diverse business leaders best tell their stories in order to achieve their next professional goal.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

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