According to career research, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you could have from 11 to 22 jobs in your working lifetime. Whew! You think you are in control? Its time to own your own online brand. Here's how.

1. You, Yes You, Need A Personal URLThe Why and How Of Owning Your Brand on the Internet ________________________________________________________ Summer 2011 Peter Levitan

2. Recognize that you have lost control of a clear career path.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average baby boomer will hold 11 jobs. Make that 22 if you are a Gen Y. _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

3. People used to feel secure being associated with their company’s brand. Your aren’t and shouldn’t. _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

4. You probably use your company’s email address for much of you personal correspondence.Beyond day-to-day business, being known as Bob.Dole@nike.com or Bob.Dole@Intel.com is a big long-term mistake. _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

5. You probably also have a Gmail, Yahoo! or a cable company email address.Its OK, but bobdole@comcast.netisn’t very strong personal branding. You are sort of giving it up to Comcast. _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

6. Its time to take control of something you can take control of.Go to www.godaddy.com and register your very own URL for $11.99. _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

7. Use your new URL as your personal email account and put up a website or at least a place-holder site. You want to get here:bob@bobdole.com and here:www.bobdole.com _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

8. If you have waited this long, you might have an domain name issue. Somehow the other Bob Dole registered your name in 2001. Consider www.bdole.com or use .me instead of .com. _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

9. If you are Bob Smith, an even more common name, then go for a URL that describes you, your goals or skill-set. It may be time to get creative. Try playing with domain name generators like www.nameboy.com _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

10. Yesterday:bob.dole@nike.combob.dole@reebok.combob.dole@adidas.combob.dole@columbia.combob.dole@vans.combob.dole@hi-tec.combob.dole@saucony.combob.dole@speedo.comToday:bob@bobdole.com _______________________________________________________ 2011 Peter Levitan

11. Need More Personal Branding Advice?peter@peterlevitan.com ________________________________________________________ Summer 2011 Peter Levitan