Digital Presence Audit

People Google you before they meet you. What shows up decides the meeting. Your digital footprint is your first impression. Most people scan for ten seconds, then decide if you’re credible, relevant, and worth their time. Run the 10-second test: 1) Headline clarity → Can I tell who you help, with what, and the outcome → Avoid fluffy tags. Use one clear promise 2) Featured proof → Pin 2 to 3 receipts: case study, testimonial, media mention, talk, demo → Lead with outcomes, then context 3) Recent thinking → Three fresh posts that teach, not sell → Answer the questions buyers or leaders ask you every week 4) Fast trust cues → Clean photo, professional banner, contact info easy to find → About section with a simple story, three proof points, one next step 5) Consistency → Weekly cadence beats bursts → Same message across LinkedIn, website, and Google results If I searched you today, what would I learn in 10 seconds? If you want a quick audit checklist, comment checklist.

Who Are You in the AI World? You’re more than just one identity. CEO You. Investor You. Creator You. Coach You. Your digital identity isn’t just what you post—it’s how AI interprets, ranks, and amplifies you. 3 Steps to Strengthen & Protect Your Digital Identity: 1️⃣ Conduct a “Digital Identity Audit” – Google yourself. Review your top five search results and ask: - Does this accurately represent the professional and personal brand I want to build? - Would AI-driven platforms trust, rank, and amplify this content? - If not, what gaps need to be filled? Update or remove outdated, irrelevant, or inconsistent information. 2️⃣ Create an “AI-Friendly” Personal Knowledge Hub - An AI knowledge hub is a central, structured space online that clearly signals who you are, what you know, and why you’re credible. Think of it as your digital “source of truth”: a single destination that connects your expertise, content, and credentials. Here’s what this looks like: Set up a Notion page, personal website, or GitHub profile that includes: - A concise professional bio and headshot - Curated thought leadership (e.g. LinkedIn posts, Substack articles, YouTube clips) - Clearly labeled sections by topic (e.g. AI ethics, product design, cybersecurity) - Links to your social profiles and featured publications - A downloadable resource—like a white paper, case study, or personal framework This kind of centralized, AI-readable knowledge hub boosts your authority across digital ecosystems—helping AI rank, reference, and amplify your expertise more accurately and consistently. 3️⃣ Build a Multi-Platform Digital Presence – AI aggregates and cross-references your identity across platforms. If you’re only active on one channel, expand to at least two or three. Why this matters: - The global digital identity market is projected to grow from $16.6B in 2024 to $65.3B by 2033 (Business Research Insights). - 42% of companies are already integrating digital IDs into their systems (Regula). - And agentic AI is accelerating fast, with over $2B in VC funding in the past two years (Deloitte). In a world where AI is reshaping how credibility is built and how influence spreads, your digital identity is becoming your most valuable asset. Follow me to learn how to shape, protect, and lead with your digital identity. #PersonalBranding #DigitalPresence #ProfessionalGrowth

"Do hiring managers really Google candidates?" I certainly think so. And not just hiring managers - potential clients, employees, and partners all look you up online. But ...most of us never check what others see... Your digital footprint is no longer optional - it's your professional first impression. Every post, comment, and photo becomes part of your story. Here's what I'd say most professionals miss about this : [1] Your true online persona Open an incognito window. Google your full name in quotes. What shows up? Those first few results are your digital first impression. Most of us never look.. [2] Content never really dies Those forum posts from college, that angry customer service message? The rash blog comment? They're all still out there. [3] Silence is loud In 2025, a blank online record raises more questions than an imperfect one. Makes me wonder: Why can't I find anything about you ? What are you hiding? The most common objections I hear when I talk about this are : [1] "I keep my life private" Smart for personal accounts, but you need a little professional presence. A LinkedIn profile at the absolute minimum. Otherwise, others will define your story for you! [2] "I don't have time to manage this" You don't need to become an influencer. But can you find one hour every few months for checking and updating your digital presence? If you're wondering how to do all this, here are a few practical steps to take control of your digital identity : 1. Audit your current footprint - Google yourself in incognito mode - Check image searches too ( you might be surprised! ) 2. Clean up what already exists - Delete or update old or inappropriate content - Update professional photos 3. Build an intentional profile - Complete your LinkedIn profile properly and add a simple bio - Share occasional professional insights 4. Commit to monitoring it - Set Google alerts for your name - Update professional information when it changes Steps 1-3 are doable for most, but I certainly struggle with Step 4 . A one-time cleanup certainly helps, but maintaining it keeps it healthy. When was the last time you looked up yourself online? Really, truly looked? Do it now, and tell me what surprises you :-) #coachshyam

When was the last time you ran an audit on yourself? In my industry, running audits for clients or people I coach is very common. Looking through their digital footprint and cleaning up their brands. It's easy to forget that you should also being doing the same for yourself. Take a moment to look through your LinkedIn profile, does it appear as if you're still working for a past employer? Do you have your current job listed? I know when I start a job, I'll list the position with the intention to add accomplishments to it later (can you add to that now?). Is your profile image recent? You may have looked great in your headshot years ago, but does it reflect how you currently look? Beyond LinkedIn - where you have public social media accounts, what does each look like? Bio, profile pic, even handles. You may not be trying to develop a 'personal brand' but if you're reading this, you have a digital footprint, are you happy with what's out there about you?

Your digital presence is your new business card. Don’t let it kill your credibility. Nonprofit consultants love to talk about “getting visible,” but visibility without intention is just noise. Here’s the thing: If a potential client Googles you and sees an old staff title, a blurry headshot, and a “passionate about impact” bio from 2021… You’ve already lost them. Before you post anything or pitch anyone, do this: 1️⃣ Google yourself. What shows up? Is it aligned with where you’re headed—or where you used to be? 2️⃣ Audit your LinkedIn. Is your headline clear? Does your profile reflect your current role—not the one you just left? 3️⃣ Clean house. Archive the off-brand posts. Make the messy personal stuff private. Delete the dead-end bios. 4️⃣ Pick one photo and use it everywhere. If you look 10 years older in real life, update your profile. 5️⃣ Set Google Alerts for your name. Because showing up in the sector means staying aware of how you’re showing up. You’re not just building a business. You’re building a reputation. When’s the last time you did a digital audit?