Self-Employment

Are you thinking about going after a big promotion, changing gears toward a new career, or maybe even launching a business of your own? The worst thing you can do when taking a professional leap of faith is to dive in without a plan. After all, you only get one shot at a first impression. Here’s how you can make it count.

Identify Your Goals

So you want to grow in your career. But what, exactly, does that look like? If you want to succeed in taking the next step, you need to be able to define what success looks like.

SMART goal-setting is the key to setting well-defined goals. SMART goals are:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Relevant

Time-Limited

If your goal is to start your own business, start by clarifying the specific type of business you want to begin and determining whether you start from scratch or pursue a franchise opportunity.  The most important part of the process is to be honest with yourself about whether you have the resources to achieve your goal. If not, look for alternative ways to achieve your idea of success.

Create a Roadmap

Now you know what you want to achieve. The next question is how you’ll do it. If you’re considering becoming an entrepreneur, a helpful first step is to start networking in your future profession. This enables you to make valuable connections with people who possess complementary skills and resources to help you realize your dream.

Beyond that, you’ll want to conduct market research and think about how you’ll build a brand that people want to be a part of. That may mean hiring a professional marketing consultant to help you develop content that will sell your story, or it may mean buying into an established business that already has brand awareness in your target market.

Lay out each step in as much detail as possible, then set a timeline so you stay on track toward your ultimate goal.

Build a Personal Website

An integral part of building your personal brand is getting your name out there and having all of your information in one place. A personal website is an excellent way to do this. A website allows you to showcase your experience, portfolio and achievements. The tricky part can be finding the right hosting service since there are so many to choose from. Ideally, you want a web host that caters to personal websites, especially if this is new territory for you. SiteGround, https://digital.com/web-hosting/siteground/#Plans_Prices%20Plansfor instance, can be a smart choice for a personal website thanks to their ease of use, custom features, well-trained customer service staff and plans that start as low as $3.95. Whichever service you choose, be sure to shop around and do your homework. The last thing you want is to rush into building a website only to have an end product you can’t be proud of.

Dial In Your Social Media

Don’t underestimate the power of social media when it comes to helping you achieve your career goals. Whether you’re looking for a new position within the same industry or pursuing a career change, social networking can help you get there.

If you’re after a career change or starting a new business, Ivy Exec recommends using your LinkedIn headline to communicate what you do, not just what your job title is. This allows other professionals to quickly understand how your skill set or business venture may benefit them. You can also beef up your LinkedIn profile with keywords so it’s optimized for SEO. Scan postings for the jobs you’re interested in or clients you are looking to attract, and use common keywords to draw attention to your transferable skills.

Social media is key for women entrepreneurs too. With social media, you can build your brand and gain a loyal following before ever launching a product. It’s a great way to test the viability of ideas and develop a customer base so you’re not waiting months for cash flow to start. Sprout Social has pre-launch social media tips that new entrepreneurs can’t afford to miss.

However, social media can also hurt you. If your social media profiles don’t convey a professional image, companies won’t be interested in hiring you when they inevitably screen your online reputation. Negative online content also seriously erodes trust with potential customers. Make sure you do a thorough audit of your social media so that potential employers or clients see the best version of you.

Taking the next step in your career requires a leap of faith, but you’re not the only one taking a risk. The employers and customers you work with are taking a chance on you, too. With these tips, you can make it a choice they feel confident in.

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