5 Ways to Fix Your Digital Handshake

Last week, a prospective client told me: "I checked your LinkedIn, website AND Instagram before reaching out."

"Digital background check" happens more often than we realise.

Your personal brand is your digital handshake - and in a world where first impressions happen online, that initial connection either opens doors or closes them before you've even said hello.

Most professionals are walking around with a broken digital handshake and don't even know it.

---

Why Your Digital Handshake Matters More Than Ever

Before reaching out, people now:

• Google your name and scan the first page of results
• Check your LinkedIn profile for credibility signals
• Browse your social media for personality and values alignment
• Visit your website to understand your expertise
• Look for reviews, testimonials, or case studies

This entire process happens in under 5 minutes - and it determines whether they see you as someone worth connecting with.

You never know about the opportunities you're losing.

        

2 Components of a Strong Digital Handshake

1. Alignment Across Platforms

The problem: When potential partners check multiple platforms, they often see confusion instead of consistency.

What misalignment looks like:

• LinkedIn says "Marketing Consultant," Instagram bio says "Life Coach"
• Professional headshot on LinkedIn, party photos on other platforms
• Serious, corporate tone on website, casual slang on social media

Quick fixes:

• Use the same professional photo across platforms
• Align your bio descriptions and expertise claims
• Maintain consistent tone and personality

        

The 30-Second Value Proposition Test

Can someone understand what makes you uniquely valuable in 30 seconds?

Common mistakes:

• Too vague: "I help businesses grow"
• Too complex: "I provide synergistic solutions for holistic business optimization"
• Too broad: "Marketing, sales, strategy, and leadership expert"

Formula that works: "I help [specific audience] [achieve specific result] through [unique method/approach]"

Example transformation:

• Before: "Marketing consultant helping businesses"
• After: "I help SaaS founders turn website traffic into paying customers through conversion-focused content strategies"

        

2. Content That Demonstrates, Don't Declares

Instead of saying you're an expert, share insights that prove it.

What "declaring" looks like:

• "I'm a productivity expert"
• "Award-winning strategist"
• "Thought leader in digital marketing"

What "demonstrating" looks like:

• Sharing a specific framework you developed
• Breaking down a client case study (with permission)
• Explaining your process for solving common problems
• Providing actionable insights from your experience

---

Your digital handshake is working 24/7, even when you're not. Make sure it's opening the right doors.

The goal is authentic representation of your expertise and personality in a way that attracts the right opportunities and relationships.

Building personal brands that matter,
Lisa ✨