Level 6 - ModulettePersonal Branding & Networking

What is your Personal, Online Brand?• Who are you? – What are you

putting across to other people? Be Clear?

• What are you? – Skills, Passions

• What makes you special? – How do you stand out? Does your life have a narrative that might engage people?

• What makes you do what you want to do?

Your personal brand might

evolve over time – that’s ok, but be aware of it

Think about how the world sees you• Whatever field you’re going into your online

presence is going to be a factor

• The lines between personal and professional space online are horribly blurred– There’s very little you can do about it– Be consistent in your approach – but be open to new

possibilities

Facebook can still be a private space – just a about – but the lines are blurring ever more since it’s so useful for events & public pages and has successes where others have failed.

Twitter can be a private space, but you’ve no control over who follows you

Reddit can also be a private space but choose your username carefully

Digital PresenceI’ve had 15 years to develop my online profile

It helps that I love Social Media

I work in an industry that expects me to have an online presence

Some of my online

life is more work

focused then other parts

I’m always aware that anything I say online can be traced back to me – nothing dies on the internet.

Always be aware of your audience!

(My) Digital Presence• What does your digital existence consist of?

This is me, some I use more then others – Keeping all the bases

covered

Actually this is a very a carefully

managed presence

I take this job very seriously ->

Who I am – visual display2012 Pics – Nia Wearn

2013 Pics – Nia Wearn

Top searches back:1. Profile on Staffs.ac.uk2. Twitter3. Profile on Academia.edu4. Profile on Linked In5. Profile on Mendeley

2014 Search results seem heavily influenced by Pinterest pins & Spotify playlists

No change in result hits from 2013

Even with a nickname / online persona

This one isn't me!

I’ve been using the same nickname since I was 13 – there’s bound to be a cross over….

I always think who might read whatever I post – No. #1 Rule

It’s worth doing this kind of audit in incognito mode too

Think about your name – if you’ve a common name what can you do to stand out?

2013 Pics - Wormella

Top searches back 2013:1. Twitter2. My own blog3. My Food blog4. Youtube5. Redditgifts

Top searches back 2014:1. Twitter2. My own blog3. Reddit4. Youtube5. Flickr

You are in a unique position…• You have the chance to craft your online presence

from scratch – more or less

• You are an ambassador:– For your course – For the games technology group– For Staffordshire University– For anyone studying Games – For your future self– For your generation

• You’ll always be part of Staffs Uni

• Where we’re going to start our journey

• LinkedIn has been described by online trade publication TechRepublic as having "become the de facto tool for professional networking".

• "LinkedIn is, far and away, the most advantageous social networking tool available to job seekers and business professionals today," according to Forbes.

Your Profile • Keep it updated– If it still says ‘student’ at

Staffordshire University when you graduate you’re doing it wrong

– Don’t just update it when you’re looking for work – keep it current

• Words to avoid– Graduate – your education

history covers this.

– Unemployed – It looks bad and has negative connotations

Endorsements

Think carefully about what skills you add to your profile

Don’t lie

Don’t sell yourself short

People can endorse you for other things – but you don’t have to accept them (for example students keep endorsing me for Zbrush?)

We’re not strictly allowed to write recommendations to go on profiles - We can only write references when employers request them

GroupsGroups are your first port of call- You are limited by how many you can join

- Choose wisely (Interests and size)

- They can help you connect with people

- Join in on discussions, check for job postings

Starter Groupshttps://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2771437https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=148569https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=3836091

Jobs• Every Group will have a Jobs section• Follow Companies that interest you

Connections 2nd Connection 3rd Connection

Follow up on the people you meet, the people sat around you, they

people you’ve worked and collaborated with.

Paper Business Cards are just an aide memoire to Connecting on Linked In

Don’t be afraid to ask for introductions if you

think it’s important

Networking in Real life• IRL Networking goes hand in hand with Digital

Networking– When you meet someone you’re both at a specific point– Keeping track of each other online means as you move through

life you can keep being useful to each other

• Any conference worth it’s salt will have a networking event

• The UK is pretty good for Game Dev Networking meetings

• If there’s nothing local to you, start one up!

So? How do I Network?Nia’s Key Rules for successful Networking

• Find an in – cool t-shirt / trainers / discuss the buffet• Don’t ignore the suits• Keep talking and circulating• Lend a Hand• Don’t be an arrogant twerp• Try not to get Star Struck• Follow up online as soon as you can

– Linked In & Twitter are go to s

– I wouldn’t hit them straight up on Facebook unless they mention it

• Everything and everywhere is a networking opportunity – be prepared

Networking is all about talking to people with a reason

• Who Are They?• What do they do?• Can they / might be

useful to you now / in the future?

Business Cards• Why are paper

business cards still important?

• You’re more likely to get a card in return if you give one

• They are a record of who you’ve been in contact with – and it makes it easier to follow up

Business Cards tips and Tricks

• Keep the info clear & precise

• Make sure it won’t date too quickly

• Quirky is ok, but you want to be taken seriously

• Proof Read it!

Physical needs to be backed up by Digital & Actions- If they ask you to e-mail – do it!

- If they ask you to send something – do it!

- Your e-mail sig should have relevant details in it

Business CardsDo your research (I’ve brought my box along)

It’s worth paying for quality• You can spot Vista Print instantly• Don’t be tempted to print & cut your own

Moo cards are lovely, but small and easily lost

QR codes are pointless on a card – make your website address easy to read / type in

Use high res quality images if you have to• Make sure it’s your art

Your business card is your first impression – and might be the impression someone takes away about you.