If all of your online profiles and activity told the story about you… what would they say? A go-getter? The quite type? Activist? Networker? Blogger? Programmer? Photographer? Designer? That is your personal brand.
Everything you do online helps to shape your story, your persona, your personal brand. In today’s digitally-connected world, your personal brand cannot be ignored. Even with the perfect resume, references and work experience, employers are going to want to know the “you” outside of work.
Below are four steps to take to immediately begin shaping and improving your personal brand.
1. Determine what your brand currently says about you.
Like any good marketing strategy, it should start with a review of what is currently out there, i.e., your personal assets. Here’s what to ask in the process:
– How many social profiles do I have?
– What sort of content is on those profiles? Business or personal?
– Am I proud of the content? Would an employer be proud?
– What social profiles am I not on that my peers are?
– Do I post updates regularly? If so, are these posts indicative of the career or activities that I am interested in?
You may be surprised to find that what you do for a living and what your online persona says about you are completely different things. Knowing this will allow you to begin to synchronize the two.
2. Create profiles on your industry’s major platforms.
Once you have an idea of your online persona, it’s time to jump into the world of social media. This is where many people don’t do enough or simply fail. Today, it is critical to be active on social media.
Start by creating a LinkedIn, Twitter, & Google+ account. Make sure the pictures, names and descriptions are consistent across all of the platforms. As Inc.com puts it, “Ensure that your profiles are consistently in line with your personal brand standards that you’ve identified.”
And don’t forget about the niche networks within your specific industry. GitHub, for example, is a perfect example of a “social network” that is designed for programmers. Quora is a social website that allows people to participate in information sharing and thought leadership.
3. Discover the crossroad of passion and expertise.
Decide what you want to be known for. When deciding, try and be as specific as possible. Don’t just say that you want to be an expert in marketing. Drill down. Go for an expert in “marketing analytics for small businesses” or “social media marketing for non-profits.”
The more specific you are the better chance you have of separating yourself from the congestion of knowledge online.
Discover an area of expertise that you are naturally talented at or are passionate about. This will make it much more fun to post content on a regular basis.
4. Become a thought leader by posting regularly.
Today, employers not only want to see success at your current company, but personally as well. Remember that success doesn’t have to be the number of followers you have. Rather, success is often measured by the contributions you make to your industry.
If you can become a trusted source of information over time, you will eventually become known as an expert in your field. This takes time, patience, and consistent content.
Post to your social profiles at least once per day (Twitter often requires much more). Do this by sharing both original and curated content with your networks. Put an interesting spin on curated content so that you begin to develop a voice.
Blogging is also a great way to demonstrate knowledge in your field. When starting out, don’t worry about perfection. Get your thoughts on the page and edit later. Write about specific topics in your field and share them on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Note: It’s important to not worry about what people will think about your writing. There will always be critics! Be bold, write what comes from the heart, and don’t be afraid to share.
Remember:
An effective personal brand wields influence and benefits not available to the majority of people.
Being able to point to a variety of social profiles and original work will do wonders for your career. It sure beats the heck out of relying on a one-page resume to summarize who you are.
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