This post is about personal branding and why we should care more about your personal brand online.
When you think of branding, your thoughts might go straight to a company like Apple or Nike. Just seeing their logo, you already know what they offer, what the company stands for, and how they make people feel.
Personal branding is similar to building a company's brand. A person can be known for doing something, known for their personal qualities and values, and how they make someone feel.
Personal branding is not reserved for celebrities only.
Everyone has a personal brand.
What is Personal Branding?
A conscious effort to manage and optimize your online presence of the digital content you publish. Effective personal branding could help you be accepted into a college, advance your career, or open doors to new opportunities. Personal branding starts the moment you begin posting pictures or publishing messages online.
What is a Personal Brand?
Your public persona of how people see you, what makes you unique and how you make people feel. A short description of who you are and what makes you, you.
How to Build a Personal Brand Statement
Start by asking yourself these questions with a 1-2 word(s) answer for each:
- How people see me based on my actions?
- How do you help people?
- How do I make people feel?
Take your answers and use them as a guide to form a personal branding statement.
“Framing your personal brand into a statement can help you engage with it”. Suggested by Martin McGovern founder of Career Therapy, a professional career coaching service. Here is Martin’s statement sentence example:
I help (these people) with (these problems) to achieve (these outcomes) through (what action).
How did your personal brand statement work out? Share below in the comment section. We would love to see how it turned out! Now keep reading to find out why it's so important to take care of your personal brand.
5 Reasons Why You Should Care & Protect Your Personal Brand
1. Everyone Uses Google for their Online Research
We turn to Google when we want to research more about a product, restaurant, company, and yes- even people.
How you show up on Google search results and other digital platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram, should be reviewed.
You should question if you like what you see and comfortable with how your personal brand is being portrayed online.
Here a few “fun” (but really mostly scary) facts about how search is being conducted on people.
- 79% of recruiters have rejected candidates based on their online activity
- 48% of employers check their employee’s online activity
- 50% of hiring manager’s check for a a candidate’s online persona
2. Take Control of the Narrative
Companies spend a major portion of their budget on advertising and ads. They pay experts to highlight the values and benefits they offer and to control the narrative of how the public perceives the company.
It's time to put on your PR and Marketing hats and start to think about personal branding online. You have a choice of what you publish and post online.
Here are a few more “fun” facts of what recruiters are lookout for according to a 2018 National Survey:
- 60% of the recruiters look for positive engagement online
- 58% of the recruiters look for writing examples online
- 42% of the recruiters look for references to pictures of alcohol consumption
- 58% of the recruiters look for references to marijuana
- 47% of the recruiters look for references to political rants
I am not encouraging you to be fake or inauthentic. But before you press send on that post, stop to think if it will enhance your personal brand or leave a negative mark.
3. Effective Personal Branding Could Lead to Opportunities
OK, no more “fun” facts.
Building a personal brand can also be viewed as setting yourself up for future success.
Being intentional with your personal branding could spark the interest of a new audience, a network of future colleagues, or make a stronger connection with your biggest supporters.
And for future entrepreneurs who plan to own a company one day. You might be the face and personality of that company. Consumers are more likely to purchase a product or service from a company if they know the story behind the founder. Being mindful of your personal branding now could be valuable for your company in the future.
Lastly, what if one day you find yourself needing funding or an investment for your small business. It will be your personal brand that investors will rely on. The golden rule for investors:
You are investing in the person, not the company.
4. Build Your Credibility
Let’s flip the switch on personal branding and make it work for you.
Start establishing your credibility as an expert in your field, hobby of interest or activity. Create an online presence to show your talent and skill.
Create high-quality, and valuable content as leverage to build an audience that will support you as an expert. Content in the form of:
4. Build Your Credibility
Take this moment to close your eyes and think about your career in the distant future. You no longer want to work for a company, and you want to work for yourself as an expert in your field as a consultant.
Managing and optimizing your personal brand will be a key asset when you go to market yourself later. Building a reputation on knowledge and trust will definitely come in handy later for referrals.
Conclusion
Your personal brand is all within your control.
It will evolve and change- as it should, that’s life. Stay true to yourself, but be mindful of what you share with the public online.
I hope this post about personal branding helps you reframe your outlook on how to develop and manage your personal brand.
Share your thoughts on what your thoughts are on personal branding. Did any of these reasons resonate with you?
