If there’s one skill that we all, in the Information Age, could probably brush up on, it’s the art of communicating ourselves, our businesses and our passions online more effectively. Whether you like it or not, if you have a Facebook or Twitter page, you have created a brand: yourself. Every decision you make with that account will reflect on you personally. As a blogger, this is always something that I keep in mind–whether I’m promoting a brand I like, writing out a recipe, or sharing an anecdote about the wonders (and woes!) of parenting–even though I’m self-publishing, I’m still publishing. I can’t tell you how to get thousands of hits on your website each day–you’ll need a full service marketing agency for that–but I can tell you how to build your online presence and…omniscience.

Network

Join other social networks besides Twitter and Facebook; there are lots out there: Pinterest, Digg, chime.in, zoomit.ca are some of my favourites. Get social in some of these spaces and you might be amazed at the reception your brand receives, often directing readers back to your blog, or myspace or website. These platforms are more interactive than a blog format, and give you insight into the effect your brand is having on others. Another way to network is to experiment with forums. Pick a topic you’re interested in or just join a local forum and build a solid reputation there, which leads me to my next point–

Keep it Appropriate

Think carefully before you publish something that could be controversial. One of the great things about the internet is that anyone is entitled to publish anything they please, but the internet doesn’t forget, and neither do readers, when they read something you posted that was disturbing or negative. One ill-timed rant can turn a casual reader off your page forever, so take a moment before you hit publish to reflect upon whether or not what you’ve just written is true to your overall vision.

Build Community

You can’t expect to gather hordes of readers for your blog if you don’t take the time to support other bloggers, leaving comments on their page or referencing them on Twitter. Participate in online discussions and reach out to other bloggers with similar interests. There is a niche for everyone’s brand on the internet , and community comes with that.