Building an Authentic Online Presence

Hello Friends!

Welcome to another #MondayMusing. Staying with April's Personal Branding theme, we are exploring an important topic to help you shape your professional visibility: building an authentic online presence.

In this day and age it is virtually impossible to avoid having a digital presence and with so much emphasis on digital engagement, we often find ourselves asking: what does it mean to show up online in a way that aligns with your values, expertise, and goals? More importantly, how can we do this without falling into the trap of simply following trends or mimicking what seems popular?

At Konseye, we’ve given a lot of thought to this especially figuring out how to do this without it becoming a second job. Here are a few simple ways you can build an online presence that feels true to you and genuinely reflects who you are and the value you bring to your field.

Let's get into it!

1. Start with Clarity: What Do You Want to Be Known For?

Before creating or updating your online content, pause and ask: What do I want people to take away when they come across my profile or post?

• Take Chioma. She works as an analyst in international public policy and recently started trying to build her online presence on Linkedin. After consulting with a brand specialist about optimizing her profile for job opportunities, she realized thats she had been posting or reposting general content that had nothing to do with her work or actual interests. Visitors to her profile had no idea what she represented or her area of expertise. After more reflection, Chioma decided that she really wanted to be known for her work on climate policy in Africa - not only was this an area of expertise, she had a few publications under her belt. In addition to updating her profile, Chioma now carefully curates her posts to reflect insights from the field, policy trends, and articles she finds meaningful. Just the other day, Chioma received a Linkedin message from a contact who shared that he enjoyed reading her posts and invited her speak on a panel about African solutions to climate change. #Winning!

• Pro Tip: Defining your focus helps you decide what to share and what to leave out. This is an excellent opportunity to create clarity for others and control the narrative about who you are and what you represent. 

  
  

2. Be Consistent, Not Constant

A question I have come across a lot is whether we need to post every day to be visible. People may have different responses, but my researched answer to that is not necessarily. Frequency is not the only path to visibility and it is more important to focus on consistent quality when building an authentic personal brand. 

• For example, Konseye Mentor Akingbolahan Adeniran, an international legal expert dedicated to justice and accountability posts personal reflections on his career journey sometimes once or twice  month or even every few months.  While he does not stick to a particular content calendar, each post is thoughtful, engaging, and attracts his network's attention. His contacts readily share their own perspectives in the comments section. The lesson I learned from him is that it is important to find a rhythm that works for you and stick to it. Your voice carries more weight when it is consistent.

• Pro Tip: Consistency builds recognition. Whether it’s weekly reflections, monthly updates, or occasional thought pieces, choose a rhythm that feels sustainable for you and focus on quality. Don't post for the sake of posting. 

  
  

3. Share More Than Successes

A common trap online is the pressure to post only polished achievements. I should know this because I'm very guilty of the "pleased to announce," "delighted to share," "grateful to have attended"  type of posts. But what would it look like to also share moments of learning or a challenging situation we have faced or are currently facing? 

• A young woman recently shared an honest post on Linkedin about her difficulties finding a job. It received well over 10,000 engagements and was widely circulated. Many responded in the comments by sharing job openings and tagging contacts who might assist. Her openness prompted a strong and supportive response that expanded her opportunities and network. 

• Pro Tip: Determine your comfort zone and experiment with sharing learning experiences. This can be a way to demonstrate a growth mindset (after all, even experts are still learning). 

  
  

4. Engage Thoughtfully With Others

Are you only sharing your own posts, or are you also showing up for others? Are you part of the conversation? Or do you click like and disappear? When building an online presence how you engage is just as important as what you choose to share. Some of the most impactful moments online come from simple actions: leaving a thoughtful comment, tagging someone in a post they would appreciate, or resharing an insight with your own views on why it matters.

• A colleague recently posted about a new project she’s working on and I didn’t hesitate to jump into the comments to celebrate with her. Another time, I saw a post that I knew a friend would find helpful, so I tagged him right away. When Konseye Ambassador Karimah Lawal shared practical tips on finding a good mentor, Team Konseye was active in the comments, connecting with her network and keeping the conversation going.

• Pro Tip: Engaging with others does not have to be overwhelming or take up your whole day. You can set aside just 20 to 30 minutes, two or three times a week, to interact with content that speaks to you. This small habit increases your visibility and deepens your connection to the communities and topics you care about. At the end of the day, people notice when you take time to respond, support, or share. These small actions add up and they often lead to new conversations, connections, and opportunities you didn’t plan for.

  
  

Bringing It All Together

Building an authentic personal brand is not as difficult as it may sound. The important thing is to show up with intention and integrity. Yes there may be suggestions on how to engage people and trends that the algorithms favour. But whatever you do ask yourself: 

• What do I want to be known for? 

• What rhythm would allow me to share quality consistently?

• How can I be part of conversations that matter in an authentic way?

  
  

The answers to these questions can guide how you shape your presence moving forward.

So challenge yourself this week and try something different as you build your authentic online presence. 

Have a wonderful week and remember: with the right network anything is possible!™

Adejoké

Team Konseye