When you google your name, what comes up?  (and before you tell me you’ve never done that – are you serious?!? Everyone googles themself, don’t they?)  Five years ago when I was still working in the corporate environment there was the odd link to an MBA class reunion or a board role that I held.  These days if you google ‘Jen Dalitz’ you’ll get 4,220 results (and counting).  There are links to my websites and blogs, my LinkedIn profile, speakers bureaux that book me, clients who’ve promoted my presentations and media who’ve interviewed me.  So what has changed?  PR.

Every now and then I receive emails from sphinxx readers asking for tips and advice for building a profile and I”m always happy to help because I think it’s a surefire strategy to increase you profile, power and ultimately pay.   If you want headhunters to notice you, PR is perfect.  If you want to attract new clients, PR is profitable.  Networking is good but remember: networking isn’t so much about who you know, but who knows you.  So the more you can get your name out there in the market place, the more chance you’ll have at getting cold calls from headhunters and potential clients. 

Recently I was invited by the team at PR Guru who asked me to share my own DIY public relations story: what I do to get the sphinxx brand and my name out there in the market place.  You can read the full interview here – it’s a quick read with my practical tips on where I find PR stories and tips, who I pitch ideas to, and how I leverage the PR I do get in order to get more.

But here’s the important thing: whether you are self employed or an employee in a big company the approach barely differs: journalists and publications it’s almost always about the individual, not the company, and so your personal stories are what they’re looking for.  In my opinion it’s especially important to build a strong personal brand and profile as an employee, because it’s the one thing you can take with you from job to job, organisation to organisation.

Now if you are thinking something like “won’t I look like a big head if I go putting myself forward for promotional opportunities” consider this: if you don’t, someone else will.  And it might as well be you.

I really recommend you take a quick look at the PR Guru interview – I’m sure there will be something there to help you in your own personal branding stories.  And if you still have questions, drop me a line and I’ll be happy to help.