Personal branding is the process of creating and marketing a
certain image for yourself online. Basically, your personal brand is your impression
and reputation in the minds of others. With the rise of social media, crafting
a personal branding has never been easier. Your online presence and personal branding
are closely intertwined and work together to create an image of yourself for
fellow colleagues and professionals.
In order to cultivate your personal brand, you should have a
presence online. In today’s day in age having a presence online is the easiest
and most effective way to build a personal brand. Everyone can create an online
presence simply by creating social media accounts for themselves. Making
yourself a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn is an easy and
free way to create an online image for yourself. By keeping these social media
profiles active and updated, you are contributing to your online presence and
therefore creating a platform to build your personal brand. Be sure to post
appropriate content for each social media platform. For example, you wouldn’t
want to post a picture of your dog with his or her new toy on LinkedIn. That
content is more appropriate for Facebook or Instagram. Another great personal
branding tip is to give all your social media profiles a consistent look and
feel.
So how do we create and maintain our personal brand? The
first step to perfecting a personal brand is to express who you are. Having
your education, professional experience, skills and specializations available
for others shows people who you are, what you are capable of, and what you plan
to do in the future. Be sure to
highlight your strengths, this is what will help you encompass who you are
while emphasizing your most important features. In addition to this, showing
your personality and interests will really diversify and personalize your
brand. This is arguably the most important aspect of your personal brand since
it helps you stand out and differentiate yourself from everyone else. Be sure
to be as honest and authentic in this component.
Your personal brand is also built off of personal and
professional relationships. This includes who you are connected with online and
what these people say about you. Your personal brand is also built off of who
and what you follow. Following influencers and communities online can really
help you encompass who you are, what you are interested in and knowledgeable about,
and what you stand for.
If you keep these guidelines in mind, you’ll be able to
craft a personal brand for yourself online that will positively portray
yourself to your colleagues and professionals.
Written by Emma Bevilacqua from Rebecca Adele PR & Events
