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There’s no fancy title needed for this blog post. We all know that keeping track of your digital presence can be tricky, so this post is a clear and simple checklist to make sure you’ve shared your hard-earned credentials (consistently) everywhere they should be.

A Few Notes Before You Get Started

No matter what industry you work in, what credential you’ve earned, or what stage you’re at in your career, here are a few tips to consider before adding your credentials to your professional platforms.

• Understand your credential format. Organizations may offer your credential in a variety of formats. You may receive an interactive badge that allows people to learn more about the credential or a static image. You may receive a number for verification or not. You may also find that the organization updates their format (changing from a static to an interactive badge, for example). Make sure you are making the most of whatever format is available, sharing the details provided on each of your professional platforms.
• Add details. Every platform will provide you with different opportunities for sharing details. Make sure you complete as much information as you can! Never assume someone will look for more information on their own – share keywords and details whenever you are given the opportunity.
• Consider display and order. If you have multiple credentials, consider how each will be displayed and adjust the order to ensure the most relevant credential is seen first. For example, on LinkedIn, in many views, the first two credentials will show before someone has to click to see the others. Be sure your most important credentials are immediately visible. 

The Credential-Sharing Checklist

Here it is – a simple and detailed list of where you should be sharing your credentials. Be sure to review the list to identify entire platforms you may have missed, but it’s also a good idea to double-check the places you think you have already shared your credentials. You never know what you may have missed – maybe sharing your credential entirely or simply an opportunity to share more details!

 1. Your Resume or CV

Yes, this is an obvious one, but remember: This is an opportunity to make sure you’ve included complete descriptions of your credentials, too. Take a few minutes to review what credentials you’ve shared and how you’ve described them on your resume or CV.

Note: Remember to add your credentials on job applications, too! You’ll have to remind yourself for each application, so consider leaving yourself a note or creating a template for applications that will help you remember all the important details.

 2. LinkedIn

This may feel like another obvious one, but make sure that you have not only shared your credential on LinkedIn under the “Licenses & Certifications” category, but also (if applicable) added the corresponding credential to your name on the platform (i.e., Dr. Amy Jauman, SMS). That way your credential will pop up when people see your name associated with comments and messages!

Note: Did you complete a course to prepare for your certification? Consider listing that separately on LinkedIn under Courses.

 3. Email Signature

Typically, people will use the shortened version of their credential after their name in their email signature, but depending on the industry and how much detail you want to share, consider adding the corresponding image or link to additional details.

Note: Do you have multiple email accounts? Remember to add your credentials to all of them!

 4. Business Card

Whether you use a traditional or digital business card, check to make sure your credentials are linked to the information you’re sharing. If you share your LinkedIn account as your digital business card, you may already have this covered – but check to see how your information comes up. Are your credentials popping off the page the way you want them to?

 5. Primary Website

If you work for an organization, you are probably listed on an internal and/or external company website. And if you are an independent contractor, you probably have your own website! Whatever your primary website is, make sure your credentials are listed when possible. This may require working through your HR department, helpdesk, or IT department, so don’t delay getting the process started!

 6. Secondary Website Mentions

Secondary website mentions may be a little harder to track down. In fact, an internet search of your name may be where you have to start! Secondary websites refer to any place where your name is listed, like if you are speaking at a conference, serving on a board, or if you wrote a blog post outside your organization. When we share our information at the request of others (like on a speaker form, for example), we often just provide what they ask for. Remember to include your credentials, even if they don’t ask for them!

 7. Social Media Sites

It can be easy to miss specific social media sites you’re associated with. And it’s not always clear where you should include your credential! Consider these options:

• If the name of the social media account is the same as your name, consider adding your credential after your name. That way people will see your credential when they visit your page and, in some cases, they will see it when you post a message.
• Include your credential in your account description – adding your credential to your name and also spelling out the credential in the description.
• Add the credential image to your page heading or icon.
• Post when you earn your credential and, where applicable, pin the post.

These all apply differently to different platforms, and they are just ideas! Use the ones that fit your situation and support your personal brand.

 8. Freelancer Portfolios

If you work as a freelancer, make sure you add your credential in every possible place on your profiles and portfolios. This may mean adding your credentials to your name, uploading your credential to your freelancer platform, or adding your credentials to your digital resume within the platform. Since platforms like Upwork and Freelancer are all set up differently, you need to dig a bit to make sure you find all of the places your credentials can be listed, but in most cases, you only need to do it once – so it is definitely worth your time!

 9. Directories and Listings

Are you listed in professional directories for your city or county? As a volunteer or board member? With the school(s) you graduated from as an alum? Directories are often a single submission, so we forget about them, but most can be easily updated, simply by reaching out to the list owner. With one email, you can be properly presented with your credentials included in your profile!

 10. Professional Networking Sites and Online Communities

If you participate in forums, groups, or communities relevant to your profession, you may have the opportunity to share your credentials in your profile or when contributing to discussions. If you can, complete a profile on the sites related to your professional work so that people can click through to learn more about you. But even if that isn’t an option, you may still be able to include your credentials in how you identify in your post. It could be with your name, but if may also be in text, as in, “As a certified social media professional, it’s been my experience…”

 11. Digital Portfolio

Especially if you have an extensive amount of creative work, you probably have a beautiful digital portfolio displaying impressive graphics and marketing campaigns! Don’t forget to update the most searchable aspect of that portfolio by listing your credentials, accomplishments, and detailed information about your expertise.

 12. Professional Publications

If you write articles or blog for organizations (like NISM!) make sure that you update your bio to include your credentials! While this applies mostly to updating your information for future posts, some publications use one description for their contributors, so it may mean updating your site biography.

Next Steps

If reading this list feels overwhelming, that is understandable! But don’t let the possible updates needed send you into analysis paralysis. Instead, use this list exactly as it is intended! Review one item at a time and work your way through to the end. Here are a few other tips!

• Do an internet search of your name (which you should do on a regular basis anyway) and see what comes up! If you find sites you can edit or have edited, tackle two or three at a time. Those small actions will add up quickly and, before you know it, you’ll have your name and credentials recorded correctly everywhere!
• Save descriptions, requests for updating your information, and other text that  you can potentially use in multiple places in one document so you can use it over and over again.
• Share this list with a friend and work together. The accountability will help you move forward (and it may be more fun). Plus, you can bounce ideas off of each other if you get stuck on the best way to share your information!

Most importantly, set attainable goals. Can you tackle one of these categories a day? A week? A month? Choose the path that work bests for you – just keep moving forward!

 

About the Author

Dr. Amy Jauman, SMS, CDMP, LEAF, is an author, ghostwriter, international speaker, podcast researcher, and university professor. She is a certified social media strategist (SMS), certified digital marketing professional (CDMP), and certified law enforcement analyst – foundational (LEAF), with a master’s degree in experiential education, graduate certificate in crime analysis, and a doctorate in organization development. Amy has spoken at a variety of conferences on marketing topics, including the I.C.E. Exchange, Digital Marketing Institute, and the National Institute for Social Media. In addition to her ghostwriting projects, Amy has authored two marketing textbooks, five ebooks, and multiple articles and blog posts on the subject of traditional and digital marketing.