Have you ever tried your hand at googling? Someone has probably Googled you at some point in your life. It could have been a potential employer, a buddy, or a date. Whatever information is available about you online helps them identify with you and may give them a positive or negative impression of you. If you find any inaccuracies or outdated material that does not represent you, there are actions you can take to improve your online presence and build your personal brand.

What is personal branding?

A personal brand is your story. It communicates to customers, coworkers, and other professionals the unique skills, experiences, and character traits that make you who you are.

Why your brand is important?

Building and managing a personal brand can help you impress someone, whether in interviews, job promotions, or client relations. When you become intentional about your brand, you control how you market yourself, allowing you to manage your actions and choices to build credibility and trustworthiness.

How to build a good personal brand?

Although each person’s brand is unique, there are key elements that are essential to build a good brand.

• Authenticity. You cannot fake your brand. This will only result in contradictions in how you present yourself, which people will notice sooner or later. So, be a real person.

• Values. Your brand values are your personality attributes people associate with you. Depending on your industry and profession, these characteristics may be qualities of yourself that you wish to emphasize. For example, an entertainer may want to improve their sense of humour. Meanwhile, a businessperson may wish to appear as clever and adaptive as possible. An influencer, on the other hand, may wish to establish a reputation for being hip and trendy.

• Integrity. Building a personal brand is more than just about making a good first impression. It is also about identifying and adhering to your principles and not allowing external forces to compromise your integrity. When you know what you stand for (and against), your decisions and choices become more consistent and in accordance with your values.

• Charisma. A good brand should set you apart from your competitors, as many people are skilled in their own craft. So you must ask yourself, “What about my story makes me unique?” It may appear to be a difficult question at first, but only you have lived your life, and only you know what your experiences are that are unique to share.

• Trustworthiness. When you deliver on your promises and adhere to your values and principles, you will earn the trust of those around you. As a result, you will have more opportunities in both your professional and personal lives.

How to create a marketable personal brand?

When creating a personal brand, consider what distinguishes you and how you want to communicate your message to your target audience. In other words, what are your core principles, and what do you want to be known for?

Once you have answered these questions, you will be able to start developing content that reflects your own brand.

Using social media effectively

Social media is an excellent platform for developing your personal brand since it allows you to reach a larger audience by using social media material such as blogging, social media postings, and even videos.

Make a commitment to post every single day for at least one year. Think about your strengths and how you can use them to your advantage.

For example, if you have a good voice, starting a podcast could be a good option. Or if you have charisma or are considered funny, starting a vlog channel may work for you. However, if you are more of an introvert but still an amazing storyteller, perhaps a blog is the best fit.

Take note that if your personal brand is not consistent across different platforms, it can create confusion and undermine your credibility.

For example, if you have a professional LinkedIn profile that showcases your work experience and skills, but your Facebook profile is filled with personal photos and posts that do not align with your professional image, it can create a disconnect and make it difficult for people to understand who you are and what you stand for.

One solution is to make your personal accounts more private or to use a different name. This can help to keep your personal and professional life separate and ensure the information available about you is consistent with your personal brand.

However, it is crucial to examine the potential consequences of making your personal accounts private, as doing so can limit your capacity to communicate with others and may not be the ideal choice for everyone.