Had a terrific conversation with a journalism professor from the University of Oklahoma on Wednesday. We were discussing all things digital when I had an epiphany that’s rooted in both business and journalism.
Let’s start with the latter.
Misinformation and disinformation are huge issues in journalism right now. Meta has eliminated fact-checkers. X runs rampant with conspiracy theories. Newsrooms across the country are working to separate fact from fiction while at the same time trying to win the public trust on a daily basis.
But it’s not just the media having that issue.
We all are. I’ll explain.
LinkedIn is filled with folks who are really struggling with job searches. This is especially true for professionals over 40.
Ageism is very real, and it’s the one discrimination that still goes pretty much unchecked.
It’s bullshit is what it is, and employers should be called out on it.
However, all professionals would do themselves a massive favor by upping their digital literacy and devoting time to sharing their expertise across social platforms. The purpose wouldn’t be to become an influencer.
It would be to build trust.
To get recruiters to trust you, not to mention employers, prospects, and customers you want to retain.
And it’s not just the knowledge professionals would be exhibiting in their Substacks, YouTubes, Instagrams and LinkedIns.
It would be their personalities.
Can you do the job? And would others enjoy working with you?
The next best thing to being able to sit across from somebody and talk with them is to watch them on video. If you’re not going to get an in-person interview, at least be seen digitally.
Yes, the attention you’d capture in doing this would attract eyeballs and would almost certainly increase the number of callbacks and interviews you get.
But a funny thing might also happen.
You might be so good at it, you end up making it a business.
I left Griffin Media as its director of digital content at the end of the year to go into business for myself. I have a digital communications formula that I think will help businesses that can’t quite afford a full-time digital communications or PR employee: newsletters, podcasts, YouTube, amplified by vertical video.
It’s the foundation for Doable Digital Media, which I launched last month.
But as I was going through my day-to-day in trying to build the business, something nagged at me.
I needed to create something to help professionals who otherwise aren’t really ‘on social’ to build a presence for themselves before they find themselves on the other end of a layoff with no mechanism for attracting attention beyond a résumé.
Tough love isn’t my jam, but let me just say it: Not having a professional digital presence in 2025 is a non-starter.
So I created a couple of products that I’m offering folks: a 1:1 coaching call ($150) and a less expensive primer on kickstarting your digital presence ($19.76). The coaching call is gold; I’ll be working with you closely.
But the 10-page eBook I put together on kickstarting your digital presence is super valuable. I’d start there, and if it gets you going—then let’s do the 1:1 coaching call.
If this is something you or somebody you love could use, visit stan.store/doabledigitalmedia.
And if you’re not interested in spending, I totally get it. I give away a lot of expertise on my LinkedIn, too.
Hang in there and persevere!
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