Career

A digital business card can take a lot of different forms. In this post, I am referring to a simple page detailing your online footprint. To give you a better idea, here are three examples of these pages: www.naimishpatel.com, www.adamdaugelli.com, www.nikolaideleo.com.

In today’s increasingly connected world, people are finding information about you through the internet as opposed to more traditional means. Have you ever Googled yourself? Try it now and see what pops up. You’ll probably notice you don’t control most of the sites on the first page. While some may find this scary, take it an opportunity to instead direct these people to a site created by you. Since the first three listings get over 79% of the traffic, make it your goal to reach the top three spots on Google for your name.

1. See if your name is available as a URL. Click here to check the availability. If it is not, try adding your middle initial or some slight variation. It helps to have your full name within the URL as Google will boost up the page on the search rankings.

2. Buy hosting and register the domain. I use Bluehost and I know a lot of people who also consider it the best hosting service. This should cost you about $4-$7 a month depending on the length of the plan you purchase. It includes free domain registration which is a plus.

3. Install WordPress on the host site. For bluehost, they conveniently do it for you in under 5 minutes. Click here for help.

4. Pick a business card theme. There are a variety of business card themes in a variety of price ranges. Here are my top 2 free ones: Digital Business Card by Human 3rror, Ipseity by Human 3rror. Click here for help uploading the themes.

5. Customize the theme with your info. Go through the WordPress theme options on the left toolbar and input your personal information. Most of the themes make it as simple as adding the URL of your different pages in the specified boxes.

Congratulations! You now have your own personal website. Comment on any problems you have and let me know if there are other themes you have found!

I’ve been in college almost four years now and I can count the number of great Powerpoint presentations I’ve seen on one hand. It seems to me that this communication medium has become the established method without true justification. The reason is simple enough – it’s just too easy to make a mediocre one. It seems presenters have stopped using Powerpoint for the effect but have begun to use it as a way to remind them of their upcoming lines. Here are some of my steadfast rules:

1. Never use a theme from Powerpoint. The use of one shows a complete lack of effort. Instead, learn how to use a Master slide and create your own simple design. Never let your theme distract from the presentation.
2. Minimize your use of text on a slide. Seth Godin’s rule is no more than 6 words a slide. It will keep your focus on the fact that the presentation is meant to reinforce your point, not make it.
3. Do not put too many images on a slide. The viewer will spend more time looking at all the different pictures than listening to you.
4. On the image note, try not to copy and paste random pictures from Google. Most of the time they look unprofessional and you are better off going with stock photos.
5. Finally, never use transitions or animations. Those were fun in 8th grade so leave them there.

For more tips on creating a powerpoint presentation check out the Career Resources section for a guide by Seth Godin, the New York Times bestselling author.