CEO’s are getting a bad rap.

According to a recent study conducted by Weber Shandwick, 92% of CEOs are present on social media, but only a whopping 22% engaged in the last twelve months. That means that the vast majority of CEOs are sitting on dormant profiles, completely ignoring how social media can benefit customer engagement, retention and sales.

Engaging on social media allows you an opportunity to have a conversation with your customers and prospects, exist outside of a website or tri-fold brochure, and build a positive reputation and round personalized service. It’s worth taking the time to ensure that your online reputation is the best it can be, as well as using this reputation to market your company.

Get started with these tips:

  1. Develop a Plan: Just like business planning, you need to have a clear plan to create your professional story. Think of yourself as a brand and think about how you want the brand of “you” to be known. Is it for your professional experience? Your position as a thought leader in your industry? A visionary in your field? Whatever the goal, be sure to keep it at the forefront of whatever you publish online to ensure that what you are posting supports your end game. Aim to post at least 3- 5 days a week, planning out what you want to do based on an editorial calendar. For example, Mondays are for motivational quotes, Tuesdays are for tips, Wednesdays are for Live vidoes, Thursdays and Fridays are free to post about passions outside of your business, like your family, a non-profit, volunteerism, or hobbies.
  2. Pick the Right Chess Pieces: LinkedIn allows for you to build an online portfolio and share your accomplishments to date, but gone are the days of simply using it as a resume. Utilize the platform to connect with your peers, garner prospects and connect with other thought leaders in your industry. As the largest network, Facebook is a tremendous place to boost your personal and professional profile, connecting to your brand through company pages, groups, and advertisements. Bear in mind, #4, below, though.
  3. Blog, Blog, and Blog some more: No doubt that you’ve got something to say when it comes to the best practices or tips for working effectively in your industry. Share the knowledge! By updating your blog with in-depth posts about things you’ve experienced in your field or even things that your clients can expect when working in the business world, you show rather than tell your knowledge. The most important thing to remember here, is consistency, consistency, consistency. Plan your posting schedule and stick to it!
  4. Manage your Online Reputation: Have a less than flattering picture that your brother posted of you on Facebook from the last family gathering? It’s pretty safe to say that you wouldn’t want clients or potential employees to see that side of you, am I right? Be careful about what you post because your online presence will live forever. Also, set your privacy settings to where you have to approve when other people tag you.
  5. Monitor your Image: Sign up for Google alerts so that you can be informed each time a new mention of you is made online. You can use these alerts to do damage control if anything negative is said about you and you can share all the positive things said about you. Make sure to blog regularly, post frequently, and keep your LinkedIn up to date to enhance engagement and maintain your relevance?

Try these tips to start building your online reputation today!