True Blue Buds and SEO

As I look back over the past year and then look toward the future (2012), I wanted to focus on these two concepts.  This is loosely based on Chris Brogan’s three words idea for goal setting but with my spin.  These are things both YOU and I need to better understand and address.

True Blue Buds

(Buds is short for buddies, just in case you were wondering. It isn’t a reference to the beer.)

Let’s get a handle on who your true friends are.  Who are the people in your personal and professional life who support you and would go out of their way to help you? Do you have clients or customers included on this list?

I am reading “The Referral Engine” by John Jantsch in which he does a great job in explaining “how” and “why” your customers are your greatest source of business.  As a job seeker, your customers are an invaluable source of information and assistance!

You know who else is your customer?? Companies/employers.  Think about it.  They are looking for a solution and you could be their solution provider.  Instead of treating companies and employers like nameless faceless job postings, treat them as you would a potential customer.  WARNING: Don’t expect they will all treat you the same way, which is true in the world of business anyway.  They don’t need you unless you can convince them that you do.

Your Next Steps:

Looking back over the past year, what have you done to support your True Blue Buds?  Have you thanked them too? It is never too late. Put that on your “to-do” list immediately.

Moving forward, how can you stay in contact with these buds? Do you have their email addresses? Yea, that’s great until they change companies or switch email providers.  Connect with them on LinkedIn and once you’ve done that, consider writing them a recommendation too!

More on looking forward.  How can you develop more True Blue Buds?    You can never have too many friends- ask an extrovert how many they have and I bet you they will have an endless list.  Introverts, step outside of your comfort zone and take a risk.  Go out of your own way and try something different.

I absolutely intend to practice what I preach here.  Reaching out, engaging more, taking risks.  Who’s going to hold me accountable???

SEO

Search Engine Optimization.  What is it?  It is how you control where your stuff ranks in search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.). You and I are both managing our careers so SEO becomes very important.  You don’t exist if Google can’t find you.

I know enough about SEO to be dangerous, but this will be the year I get an updated and better handle on it. I encourage you to do the same.  And it isn’t just for the major search engines, the concepts of keywords and SEO is important to understand for your LinkedIn profile as well.  You want your profile to be found in searches.  In order for this to happen, you will need to understand how companies and recruiters are searching LinkedIn within your occupation and industry.  You can build it (your profile) but it doesn’t mean they will find you unless you’ve used their language.

Your Next Steps (and Mine)

Read all you can about SEO and recruiter sourcing so you can understand this stuff.  I am doing the same.

Susan Joyce, Editor/publisher of Job-Hunt.org, (and someone who truly knows her SEO stuff) recently recommended O’Reilly’s “The Art of SEO” which will soon be releasing their 2nd edition.  I am a bit afraid to jump in, but I realize how important this is for me to understand- not just for me, but to help you as well.

Your job search and your career need you to take the bull by the horns!  Now!

What is holding you back?