Jessica L. Owens

I recently participated in a #SMCGLB panel on personal branding and online profiles. It was rather useful, however, I realized that as a recent job seeker, I could have easily stood up there and participated on that panel as an “expert.” There are some simple steps to start an online presence whether you’re unemployed and looking for a job, an entrepreneur, or simply looking to increase online reputation:

Be available

To be found, you must be available. Have profiles across many platforms:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn <<A must!!
• YouTube
• Emurse.com

It is important to have a presence on several platforms, but have one main “hub.” This could be a Google profile with links to all of your various profiles or a blog.

Be an Expert

Subscribe to newsletters or RSS feeds that write about the subject matter in which you intend to find a job in. Join discussions on Twitter with professionals in your field and list them for easy access. By subscribing to discussions, you’ll have the ability to share useful and recent information in an interview or while networking with potentials.

Make Your Resume Digital

You will have variations of your resume, but it should always include your url – probably to your “hub.”

Also, have one variation of your resume be a digital resume. Whether it’s actually an html page, PDF, or a word document, it should contain links to your work in it’s actual environment.

Post an Ad

Use Google Ad Sense or Facebook Ads to target specific companies or recruiters. Link it to your “hub” or digital resume allowing potential employers to accidentally find you by targeted advertising. Talk about differentiating from the competition!

Propel your career or business with social media

Register Today!

Learn to use social media to build a personal brand at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Central Michigan University (location no longer in Grawn and will be announced soon).

This free seminar hosted by Social Media Club – Great Lakes Bay and CMU’s American Marketing Association will feature a panel of three well-known speakers who have successfully built brands for themselves and other companies/

Learn how to build your personal brand online

The panel will consist of Hajj Flemings, Nikki Stephan and Becks Davis. They will discuss how to build a brand using social media tools – such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs and more – and will answer your questions about personal brands. Use hashtag #smcglb to tweet about this event. 

Afterward, join us for drinks and networking at our afterglow event (location to be determined).

About the panel

Hajj Flemings (@HajjFlemings) has been featured on ESPN.com and BusinessWeek.com. He is the founder of Brand Camp University and the author of “The Brand YU Life,” which was selected as one of Fast Company Magazine 2008 Readers Choice Business Books of the year. His branded clients include Walt Disney, Ford Motor Company, Skechers Footwear and U.S. Department of Defense (Telecom Division).

Central Michigan University alumna Nikki Stephan (@EstrellaBella10)  is a public relations professional and social media strategist at Identity Marketing & Public Relations. Nikki is a member of PRSA Detroit and Social Media Club Detroit. She also leads a weekly Tweetea discussion group in metro Detroit. She’s a frequent contributor to Identity’s blog, id tags, and maintains a personal blog, Essential Elements, where she shares stories related to creativity, happiness and success. 

As the founder and editor of detroitmoxie.com, a website focused on Detroit, Becks Davis (@BecksDavis) has built and fostered a community organically using social media tools. She also is active in the Detroit digital community, working on projects such as TEDxDetroit and 140 Characters Conference Detroit.

Social Media Club – Great Lakes Bay is sponsored by:

Platinum: AGP & Associates, Inc. and Dow Chemical
Silver: Think Marketing and Design
Venue: Apple Mountain and Midland Center for the Arts
In Kind: CMU Career Services 

Interested in becoming a sponsor? E-mail SMCGreatLakes@gmail.com for information. 

I had coffee with an old friend from high school this weekend and started talking about my upcoming graduation and career plans. I explained to her what I wanted to do including SEO, digital marketing, Facebook, Twitter… and her face went blank! Of course this was a foreign language to a Sociology major!

This wasn’t the first time this has happened to me so I quickly gave her my mini description but found myself going into the business strategies of the companies that I wanted to work for and the pros and cons of the digital strategy of the companies that I’m considering and this- and that- and… I realized at that moment how important this work is to me. I realized the passion I had for digital marketing was very real. I know I’m making the right career path and I can’t wait to start.

It is an amazing feeling for that to just click like it did. Since my time at CareerEco, I knew I loved the work I was doing so much, that I honestly didn’t think of doing anything else. After that conversation this weekend, I know I will do anything in my power to get “there.”

I’m reading the book, The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman and I’m learning a lot about different tools that individuals can use to start leveraging services that prior to this “flattened” world, only large corporations could afford. Since I’ve started the book, I’ve realized this to be so true- especially in advertising– and even more in digital marketing.

One person can do what a whole corporation used to do.

I met with a new colleague last week, Todd Terwillegar, and he briefly explained his company, how he started, and the people who have been the most influential and helpful people to him while he got to where he is. He’s in his mid-twenties, a 1-man company with a couple of clients, and working towards making his career with his own company. Ten years ago, that would have been impossible.

New online business services such as 1DayLater allow 1 person to do everything.

If you really wanted to, you don’t need a secretary, or a team of employees that manage different aspects of the business processes. There is technology and the internet for that. One can just track it easily and save the hassle.

Full service agencies might, one day, contract all the work out and a small handful of people are permanent.

I’ve been offered many jobs in the past 6 months in advertising for my services of a social media marketer. Every single offer has been as a contractor. This economy has been forcing companies to cut back in ways they never have before. The work still needs to be done, but the money isn’t there to make it happen. Perhaps these jobs will still continue to be contracted out and many in advertising will be their own boss working for a dozen different agencies. There’s good and bad to that, I guess. That is just a part of the world going “flat.”

I get a few laughs now and then when I’m working with a team and as we open Excel, the team groans while I get a little giddy. I love graphs. I love to see data, I love to organize data… I just get excited.

So you can imagine my excitement today when I found this tool called 1DayLater. It’s meant for Freelancers but I decided it works for students, too!!

For me, this might be a short-lived hobby, because there really is no purpose for me to view my school workload into a chart. But… then again, maybe not!

Perhaps this could help people who aren’t freelancers to also manage certain projects or report to the boss. Hopefully we can see more from these guys! I love it!

I always look forward to my Six Pixels of Separation newsletters! And for many reasons- but they’re all irrelevant to this blog… and no, unfortunately, I’m not getting paid by them to say these things. It’s just true! This week their newsletter/blog featured companies that are “missing the mark with Twitter.” It’s great, I suggest you read the article…

The article focused a great deal on the fact that many companies are not using Twitter to maximize the potential for the company. They are simply trying to push their product. That irks me. It is unfortunate… but nobody asked why?

Except for me.

“Why?” you ask.

Because, in many cases (not all) there isn’t just 1 single person in a corporation that knows exactly what is going on, nor has the time to do so. This could be someone in PR that is very knowledgable on the company’s policies and knows how carefully deliver the proper information to the public…

But the article I’m so fond of mentions HR, customer service, and many other functions that could be leveraged by Twitter… and the author is right. Very right. (Look at Comcast!). So the question is why? Because many times, it is very difficult for a massive company collaborate  to communicate the proper information to use social media technology to start integrating internal functions with direct customer satisfaction. Companies need an individual in select functions such as HR, customer service, public relations… and more… who are able to give input- and regularly. It doesn’t do any good to have a company account if nobody is including useful updates! Take the time to learn and leverage the tools that are available used. Heck- Hire someone solely for that purpose!! If you need any suggestions on who to hire, I’ve got some ideas for you… just saying…

I’ve recently wrote a post regarding my hardships on finding a legitimate job and on top of that, working for a company that I’m passionate about. Please let me give you an example of what I consider… not legitimate.

From                Jennifer Sparks <mayilvahanan82@gmail.com>

Reply-to            jennifer.sparks102@gmail.com
To                    jowens89 [at] gmail [dot] com
Date                 Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 5:14 AM

Subject             HR Department for Jessica Owens

Dear Jessica Owens

Our HR Department has encountered your contact details for future employment consideration. The position available with our Organization is an administrative position allowing employees to work out of their home or home office. This Online Vacancy pays the employee a salary of $2,000 per month. After a period of no less than 1 year employees will be eligible for advancement to open staff positions.

Can You: Work 3 – 5 hours Each Week? Afford an extra $2,000 Monthly? Submit Daily Updates Via Email? Visit The Post Office Twice Weekly? Purchase Items at Your Local Store? Complete Online Training Courses? Company Background: Our Company specializes in the rehabilitation and nourishment of Global Economies worldwide. We develop and implement solutions that have an overall positive affect on Global Economy.

Job Function: The Online Managers basic duties will be to purchase necessary items for the Company in their local area. The manager will then ship the items to a domestic shipping agent within the United States. The agent will never incur any out of pocket cost or expense. Any and all funds to fulfill duties will be provided to the manager in advance.

Requirements: 21 years and older, Reside within the United States, Credit Score of 600 or higher, Computer with Internet Access, Local transportation, and Cell Phone or Home Phone. If you currently work full time or part time you can still apply for this job. We can adjust to your current work or college school schedule. Compensation & Benefits: Guaranteed $2,000 monthly salary, full health & dental (after 6 month trial period), 1-month paid vacation each year, and Company provided life insurance.

Apply Today: Vacancy is limited. Interested applicants should ACT NOW. Respond with your full name, address, contact number, and the reason why you think you would be a great candidate for this position. A member of management will then contact you with more information. It is very important that you respond with all of the above information or you may not be considered for employment.

Important Notice: We are proud to be among the Companies who operate their business affairs Online. We invite you to share the experience of how employment will be for nearly all jobs in the future.

Please note this is a legitimate offer for employment. Do not reply if you are not seriously ready to begin working immediately. We use an Employment Agency to prevent SPAM and non interesting offers for employment. Company details will be provided after your interest is confirmed.

I completely classify this as NOT A LEGITIMATE JOB. They even say right in the email in the last paragraph that this note is a legitimate offer for employment so what makes me think it isn’t?

Aside from the obvious fact that this is a make-money-at-home offer, I can’t check out the company unless I try to search the email address or the woman’s name who contacted me. And when I did Google her name and/or email address, I literally only received 3 results with little or no information indicating the person or the company contacting me.

Secondly, I wasn’t able to tell where she got my contact information. Perhaps if it was from a recommendation or a mutual colleague, I would have been much more inclined to respond. Buuuuut… She didn’t. So I’m not.

Final decision. Not Legit.

Coincidentally, I had a second job offer when I woke up this morning…

This particular job offer contained the web address of the company I was being asked to work for. He gave examples of my blog posts and explained why he thought I would be a great candidate for his company. His website was very plain but gave some credentials, a photo, and examples of where his work has been posted. He was fairly candid but also didn’t explain where he got my contact information.

It seemed potentially legitimate so I responded to his email, even though I’m not convinced that it is something golden at this point.

There are clear cut signs on what isn’t a legitimate company to work for, but it begins to slowly become a gray area from there. Just like a job seeker is offering recommendations to potential employers, companies that are start-ups looking for volunteer interns, such as this particular offer, needs to do the same. He obviously isn’t going to pay me, or if he is, it will be a very insignificant amount. He’s in need of my services just as I’m in need for a good job. Employers in this situation need to be just as candid as those seeking a good position at a good (legitimate) company.

Final decision. Maybe Legit. Find out more.

I’ve seriously applied to hundreds of jobs- maybe even pushing a thousand job applications within the past 6 months or so. I’ve uncovered what seems like every single stone I can to find new openings in my area of expertise. When I feel like I’m at a dead-end but need more to find, sometimes I just find myself Goggling “marketing jobs” or something similar. The results are always something like “MAKE MONEY ONLINE TODAY!” Even if I just search Monster.com the results are similar.

It’s a hard spot to be in because there are so many qualified people with experience that are applying for the same job as I am. It’s hard to even find a legit job to apply for let alone get hired by one.

But as I keep searching and applying, I set my standards low just for the chance of getting hired. I still only try to apply for a job at what seems like a legitimate  company, but when it comes down to it, I really only want to work for a “good” company.

I realized recently, that there are legitimate companies that aren’t “good.” Sometimes people create or run companies for their own benefit and don’t realize what the customer wants or needs. Some companies try to find ways to make their customer think that they need their product. Yes, that’s part of marketing, but the other half of running a sustainable business is after you get the consumer to buy the product, they should like it, and they should come back for more, because they know it’s a good product.

The founders of Google based their company on the customer versus the potential of making more revenue. They constantly sacrifice millions of dollars or more by doing things like no ads on the home page, etc. Their motto is “don’t be evil.” What they really mean is don’t fall into the typical business man’s mind by focusing more on how to make the income bigger and bigger. Google wants to be a company that is focused on what the consumer needs.

In my advertising class, my professor was talking about how TiVo and DVR is ruining the advertising business. I spoke up and explained that I’m going into advertising but I’d never give up my DVR. He thought there was something wrong with this picture and simply couldn’t believe it. TV ads are still relevant but there are obvious signs saying that TV ads could be nearing the end. But that’s not the end of advertising.

I want my job to be the one that finds what works for the company without interrupting what the customer wants. I want to compliment the needs of the customer by giving them what they need exactly when they need it. I want to be that company that consumers seek just as much as we seek them. I don’t want to find a way to push my product in the homes of people who don’t need them just to make a buck.

How many people can say they work for a good company? How many marketers find themselves pushing the product more than it’s getting received? I want to be more than a legit company. I want to be a “GOOD” company. I don’t want to reap benefits that I don’t deserve. I want the hard work to pay off for the consumer and my company.

Whether you’re searching for a job (like me) or just trying to make a good name for your self in your industry, it is important to be able to brand yourself. For the past year, I’ve worked to have an active presence on the web to be found by employers and recruiters and to have the ‘real me’ show up when I’m searched in Google.

There is more to the strategy, though, than just searching “Jessica Owens.” I wanted to be found with the most results on a search that would be most likely to be searched by employers. Although, it is unlikely that I can land even half of the top ten listings when searching “Jessica Owens.” I manually tested different terms and took a mental note on what sites showed up and what key words worked the best. It’s best to try to own all of the complicated searches before I can start really owning all of the results for “Jessica Owens.” Some of my searches include

• “Jessica Owens” Northwood University
• “Jessica Owens” Dow Chemical
• “Jessica Owens” Social Media
• “Jessica L Owens”
• “Jessica Owens” Marketing

As I registered my name on sites for a profile, I learned that “Jessica L. Owens” was a little bit more specific and it would be less likely for “the real me” to get confused with another Jessica Owens. I registered my blog to be http://JessicaLOwens.com and made sure the title was related to my career or linked with my name specifically (I’ve changed it a couple of times to see what works best). I also changed my resume to title “Jessica L. Owens” in hopes that someone searching might use that as a search term verses “Jessica Owens” or could at least distinguish which results might not be mine if something shows up as “Jessica A. Owens.”

I’ve found that by just adding my middle initial, it is more likely for my work to be found. And of course, all of my profiles are linked to each other or linked to my work, so people looking for me, will see things that I want them to see, not what other people have posted, or about things that are not related to me.

Look at the difference between these two searches…

“Jessica L Owens”

Almost all of the top findings are actually something that I produced or links to something that I’ve produced.

“Jessica Owens”

Not a single result is the “real” me. There is a Google Profile listing at the very bottom that doesn’t show up on this screen shot that is actually my profile with my photo in the search result. Unfortunately, if you are a potential employer, and have never met me, you might not know that it is actually my profile.

My other, more specific searches that I’ve already mentioned do show some content that is about half true and half random. It’s a work in progress and for me, it’s a continuous learning process.

This is valuable practice for those who need to be found or want to differentiate themselves from others. Make your name or title unique to others and set yourself apart. Try using a middle initial, or a specific title while having an online presence on websites and profile networks. It will advance your online results for your name (or product/topic) much more quickly.

My mom called me the other day to discuss my recent final exams and some other things. I told her I was beginning my search for jobs. She says, ‘oh that reminds me! I saw a job in the Midland paper for digital advertising, you should look at it!’

My first instinct was almost a wrinkled nose… but I was inclined to look anyways and promised her I’d grab the paper. At first I thought my lack of excitement for this find was because I probably thought my mom couldn’t possibly be right on the job title- who puts a digital advertising position in a print paper ad, right?

I looked up the ad and sure enough- it read many of the job responsibilities as the big glamorous jobs in big cities that I had been applying for. My no-rock-left-unturned job search attitude left me writing down the manager’s contact info.

But I got to thinking… What really caused my lack of excitement for this finding? Was it the lack of trust in my mom? Probably not, I trust her opinion and judgement in many things, especially when it comes to my future.

Was it because it was a local job and my perception with local positions were that they were small, lacked technology, and lacked modern ideas and philosophies? This could be possible, but I’ve applied for many local jobs, with high hopes of getting even an interview. In fact, deep down, a local offer would be ideal. It’s comfortable and close to my family. So a digital advertising offer that was local would almost a blessing. I should have been ecstatic when my mom mentioned this to me.

So what could it be? I am left with the conclusion that I truly find the job search rewarding. After a day of hard work on my day job or at school, I spend a couple of hours a day searching and applying for jobs. Some days are more successful than others, but I’ve done okay. I spend so much time and hard work on finding a job opening that I qualify for and that I desire, I spend even more time trying to perfect my application and supporting documents. I think that since I didn’t find the local job opening, I didn’t exactly feel the reward when I hit the send button.

Don’t get me wrong, even if I get an email or a phone call back, all of those feelings are out the window and I will be feeling somewhat successful in at least making the call-back list. The point is, the first reward for me comes from finding the perfect opening in such a tough economy. I can’t wait until I can feel the grander reward of a job offer that will change my life!