How to Represent Yourself Online as a Queer Professional

As a queer person, it’s impossible to separate your queerness from who you are. However, being true to yourself and your values, and not hiding or downplaying your identity is easier said than done. Some of us hide our queerness out of fear for our safety, while others try to dilute ourselves to fit in. There is no rulebook for navigating the world as a queer person in a digitized, gig-based economy, but if we’re fortunate, we get to decide how we represent ourselves. Having an online presence as a queer professional is not just about curating your brand image, what’s in your portfolio, or what you write in your profile. The ways in which you interact with others, communicate your values, and protect your peace and privacy will help you maintain a sustainable relationship with the internet. Being intentional with how you present yourself online requires you to remain conscious of your digital footprint, and honest about your limitations. Use this article as a guide on how to authentically showcase yourself online as a queer professional. Representing yourself authentically online Maybe you want to shout your queerness from the virtual rooftops, or maybe you only feel safe being out on your personal accounts - the world is your oyster! Remember that queerness is not a monolith, and there is no one “right” way to represent yourself as a queer person. Only do as much as you feel comfortable with - whether that’s including your pronouns next to your name, or putting queer-led initiatives or organizations you’ve been a part of on your LinkedIn profile. Experiment and take the time to figure out what feels the most natural. Before you begin researching what social platforms you want to sign up for, try setting intentions for what you want your online presence to be. Setting intentions will help you create your personal brand that encapsulates your skills, core values, personality, style, and services. If you want to read more in detail about creating a personal brand online, check out this guide. QueerTech’s Margi Marchetti also did a talk on building your personal brand at the 2022 QT Qonference. For now, start by answering these questions: What is the purpose of your page/account/website? Are you looking to build an online network, find a community, or showcase your work? Your content and digital presence should align with your purpose and values.  Who is your target audience? Who do you want to connect with and how should you best engage with them?  What are your goals? Do you want to make more connections with other professionals in your industry? Increase traffic to your website? Generate leads for your business? Set realistic goals that align with your purpose and track your progress over time. What is your content strategy? Decide on the type of content you wish to create, how often you will post, and how you will promote your content.   Choosing your digital platforms wisely Career and networking social media platforms are not a one-size fits all and not all platforms may be the best fit for your goals or audience. For example, if you are a graphic designer or do UI/UX, Behance may be a better platform to showcase your work than LinkedIn.  Consider where your target audience is most likely to be and what platform will allow you to showcase your skills and expertise most effectively. When in doubt, a custom-made website is the best way you can showcase your skills. If you have any front-end development skills you can make it from scratch to really show off. A custom-made website is best paired with other social media or platforms so that all of your hard work can be appreciated by other professionals or recruiters. Omitting the popular candidates like Linkedin, Instagram, or Twitter, here is our shortlist of the best career platforms to showcase your skills:  Good Places to Start Canva  Linkedin Digital Resume QT community coming soon (launching April 15) Software Engineering & Programming Github Stack Overflow CodePen Topcoder Data Science  Tableau Public Power BI Google Data Studio Kaggle UI/UX & Graphic Design  Behance Dribbble Adobe Portfolio ArtStation Writing & Editing Medium Contently  Clippings.me Journo Portfolio Protecting your privacy & peace Presenting yourself online can be especially challenging if you’re worried about how much of your digital footprint you need to censor. While it’s important to be authentic and open about your identity as a queer professional, you need to also be mindful of your privacy and security online. This means being careful about what personal information you share online and being aware of how your online activity could be used against you in the workplace. We suggest you keep your personal pages private and have strong passwords for each of your online accounts. Morgan Stanley made a cohesive list of best cyber security practices that you can read here. It’s also vital to take a break when needed: If you find yourself getting overwhelmed or stressed by social media, take a break for a few days or weeks. Your connections will still be there when you feel ready to return, and a break can help you reset and come back with a more positive outlook. Building genuine connections online Staying authentic will help gravitate you toward other people who share your values and common interests. Instead of trying to amass a huge number of followers, connections, or friends, focus on building genuine relationships with a smaller group of people so you can have more meaningful conversations.  Reach out to people to see if they want to connect, and if they don’t respond immediately, don’t get discouraged- life happens and people get busy! Gently follow up with them at a later time to show how committed you are to connecting with them.  Building a network of genuine relationships in any industry may take some time, but it’s always good practice to treat people with kindness, listen actively, and stay respectful. By representing yourself authentically, protecting your privacy, and navigating digital spaces with intention,  you can foster meaningful relationships and opportunities.