The Internet has allowed us to connect and communicate with people all over the world. It’s helped old friends find each other, relatives stay in touch, and sometimes even help people find love.

But an online presence can do so much more; it can help you create a name for yourself and provide you with endless networking and career opportunities.

This is the new age of career building. Social media platforms are the new resumes, and you need to be able to “sell” yourself.

According to CareerBuilder.com, “One in five employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, and close to 59% of them are influenced by your online presence.”

You already have an online brand, whether you know it or not. How, you say? Well, if you’re on Facebook or have a Twitter account, or even a blog, you have an online presence. Your posts, tweets, comments, pictures, etc. are the building blocks of your online persona. Don’t have any of those? The lack of an online presence is also a brand!

Establishing credibility and visibility in your field, whether you’re looking for a job or not, is essential to building beneficial relationships and elevating your online presence.

In today’s extremely tough job market, being considered for a position has gotten more and more competitive.  You’re special and unique—let employers know it! Not only does your presence create leverage for you with potential employers, but also effectively marketing yourself can actually bring opportunities straight to you.

So, if you haven’t thought about or started developing your online brand, start working on it today. If you have already started, be active. With changes in technology and communication nearly every day, your online brand is essential to your success! And you have the resources at your fingertips.

The year is new. Make it about you! The more you develop your brand, the more doors of opportunity you’ll see open up.

What does your online presence say about you? What are you going to do to improve it?