Forget LinkedIn: 5 Alternative Platforms To Build A Professional Online Presence
By Amy @BubbleJobs
If you’re feeling inspired after reading Saturday’s blog on amazing online CVs and you’re less than thrilled by your current grey and… well, grey LinkedIn profile, we’ve got some good news for you – there are some other platforms available! Hurrah!
OK, so LinkedIn might be the most obvious platform for giving yourself a respectable online presence but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right or ‘best’ option for you… particularly if you’re a talented designer, developer or online content manager whose work has to be seen first-hand to be appreciated.
Just to put in a bit of a disclaimer in here: I’m not saying you don’t need a LinkedIn profile, I’m just saying it’s worth checking out the other options that are available, particularly if you work in the digital sector. 
Now, if you’re going to have heard of any of these platforms, it’s going to be about.me. This platform allows you to design your own, personal web page – all for FREE! OK, so with this platform you’re only allowed one page, but really, isn’t that all you get with LinkedIn anyway? With about.me, you can create a short bio, link up your social media profiles, personalise your font and images and track visitors to your page with an easy to use analytics platform. Definitely worth a look…
Quite similar to about.me, Flavors allows you to create an exciting, “gorgeous” website in a matter of minutes. With the free version, you can choose from 222 fonts, 7 layouts and 5 services, while the premium version ($20 a year) lets you choose from 17 layouts and unlimited services and provides you with your own customisable URL and access to real-time stats. Definitely a good option for artists or developers who need their own personal, multi-page sites.
IdentyMe is a service that lets you create virtual business cards but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to letting you choose from loads of professional themes, IdentyMe lets you upload all your contacts to your address book so you can manage them online, and also lets you incorporate all your social media profiles into your ‘vCard’. Did I mention, with this platform you can also create your own albums and portfolios?!
Magnt.com gives you the opportunity to create “beautiful websites that introduce you to the world”. Similar to all the other platforms listed, Magnt.com lets you choose from a gallery of distinctive themes designed by professional designers and “lets you present yourself in the way you want to be seen”. Interested? For $9 a month you can upgrade to a Pro account and benefit from a personal domain, a mobile optimised site and a memorable custom email.
Last but not least there’s dooid. This site lets you create and customise your own website “in a matter of minutes”. From QR Codes to your social media profiles, you can store it all in one place at dooid and you can even add a downloadable vCard for potential clients. With this platform, you can also personalise all the images, font and themes and you can get a mobile version of your site – all for free!
So there you go; if you’re struggling to express your creativity or personality on a traditional CV, business card or online platform, it might be time to experiment with the platforms listed above. Don’t forget to let us know how you get on!
About the Author
Amy Edwards Amy Edwards is the SEO Manager for Bubble Jobs. With a strong background in online content and copywriting, Amy is responsible all the on-site and off-site SEO of Bubble Jobs and the Bubble Jobs blog. You can follow her on Twitter here or add her to your circles on Google+ here.
