How to make a great first impression online

First impressions are a major component of personal branding, especially during the job hunt. To quote personal branding consultant Biana Lerman, "They set the tone for who you are, what makes you unique, and how you communicate that to others. First impressions happen faster than you can imagine ... they can even happen before you actually meet someone."

So let's move beyond the suit and tie aspect of in-person first impressions, and start thinking about how to make a great first impression from your online presence.

Weeks ago we posted 5 tips on creating your personal brand, and most of those tips relate to the first impression people will create of you from what they see online. To review, this means a Google search of your name and social media all affect your personal brand and can make or break a person's first impression of you.

Let's expand on this. 

Just like when you meet someone in person, you need to look good. To translate this online, it basically means you need a clear and consistent design across all of your platforms, a professional photograph and most of all, no spelling or grammar errors. Making a great first impression online also means you need to be a human being and show your personality, just like you would when you meet someone in personal. We're again referring to the balance between a professional personal brand and your authentic voice.

Here's the kicker: When someone meets you in person, they rely on their memory to recap their first impression of you. But your online presence is there for reference anytime and serves as a reminder of why a person developed a certain first impression of you. You can either use this for your advantage or let it serve as a disadvantage.

Here's more on how to clean up your online presence and make a great first impression.