Click HERE to watch full talk.

As someone who’s long preached the benefits of branding, including Personal branding, I was pleased to read that WSJ’s  MarketWatch piece, just listed “Personal Branding” as a top “must-have job skill for 2013.” Personal Branding directly relates to your G-cred , or Google Credibility. So, whether you’re in the job hunt or not, the question still is: How good is yours?

As a follow up to my last post “9 Great Online Credibility Builders,” I felt it was important to point out the flipside: credibility killers.  In many ways credibility killers are even more important because it only takes being guilty of one cred killer and all your hard earned credibility could be out the window.

So, let’s begin:

 1.)  Poor LinkedIn Profile:  When checking out a person’s professional background and cred online, LinkedIn is often the first stop for me. It amazes me how little effort some people invest in it. To have good cred your profile has to present you in the best possible light. That means in needs to be filled out completely and accurately.

Many folks simply don’t know about all the bells and whistles (like videos, Slideshares, etc.) that they can use to spice up a profile. It also helps to have more than one or two testimonials. Need more? Then try giving more. And please, make sure your information is accurate, grammatically correct, and devoid of typos.

2.)  Bad Website:  When I say a “bad website” I mean a website that’s unprofessional. That means broken links, bad grammar, a lack of design, etc. One of the worst things you can do is point out the fact that you don’t have your act together with a lame, “Sorry, our new site is under construction. Come back soon.”

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Whatever your business, product, or service, credibility is key. It’s also true with your personal reputation. On that note, the information that appears, or doesn’t appear, whenever your name is searched on the Internet is a litmus test of your personal and professional credibility. It’s called G-cred.

To help with that G-cred, here are 9 things you can do:

1.) A maxed-out LinkedIn profile: Lots of folks have a LinkedIn profile, but few have a LinkedIn profile that’s fully completed for maximum impact. Is yours?

• Don’t just have a short job title, tell folks as much as possible in that title space. The more key words, the better.
• Have a bunch of recommendations? No? Then here’s a tip: If you want more recommendations, try giving some.
• Be sure you include all your website links and a Twitter feed.
• Is your profile Summary awesome? Is it filled with juicy keywords?
• Got videos or SlideShare presentations? Add them with the SlideShare app.
• If you want you can even display your reading list.
• Lastly, be sure your latest blog posts and Tweets are being displayed in your LinkedIn update feed.

A LinkedIn profile is usually one of the first things that comes up in an Internet search. Be sure you have a great one.

2.) A blog: It’s easier than ever to create a blog. Not only will it help with G-cred, it’ll help position you and your business as a leader in your field.

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More that ever TRUST is the key factor in your prospects’ decision making. And to create trust nothing is more important than online credibility. It’s critical for every product, service, organization and professional who takes his or her career seriously. Whichever  you fall into there’s a list of ways to build your online cred. There’s also a list of things that can detract from it. John’s NY EXPO talk covers them all and offers tips  to keep your online cred strong. (For info on John’s Marketing Therapy program for small businesses, click here.)

Never before have there been so many cool, low cost ways to get the word out. And, never before has it been more confusing. With the dizzying array of traditional and non-traditional options and a Social Media landscape that seems to change monthly, it’s hard not to be confused. Yet, you’ve got two choices: figure it out, or be beaten by the competition who has.

John’s recent NY Business XPO talk at the Javits Center provides an overview of the key things that everyone needs to know to market effectively today, and tomorrow. Right click to download.

For info on John’s Marketing Therapy program to help small businesses market themselves with maximum effectiveness, click here.

Is your business on Google Places? If you want to be found online, it really, really, really (did I say really?) helps.

Marketing experts claim it’s easier than ever to market your business. So, why is it so confusing? I address that question and discuss the best marketing solutions to grow your business now and in the months to come.