Your personal brand is more than a glimpse into your personality.
Aid in the development of your career by cultivating and building your personal brand. Basically, your personal brand is your professional reputation. It is the version of yourself that the world sees. Your personal brand illustrates your skills and talents. Furthermore, it shows organizations and hiring managers glimpses of your personality and work style. Tie your personal brand together and promote it in a variety of ways. Here are seven ways to build your personal brand, bring all of its elements together, and make it appealing:
1. Social Media Platforms
Utilize social media when building your personal brand. Create an account on all major social media platforms. LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter are the most popular. Facebook and other options may be applicable, depending on what you do. Importantly, remain consistent in your voice and persona across all platforms. Also remain consistent in the skill set you present across platforms. If you say you’re a UX expert on LinkedIn, also mention it somewhere on Twitter.
2. Professional Picture
Use a professional picture for your online profiles. Inexpensive headshots are taken at local department stores, camera shops, and photographer studios. Make this small investment to boost your personal brand. With this in mind, you can also post informal snapshots. A healthy balance between the two will polish your online presence. Also, when possible, include pictures of yourself on the job or in professional settings. This demonstrates enthusiasm and shows that you are career-minded.
3. Follow Business Etiquette
When building your personal brand, use common sense. Don’t be offensive or unprofessional online. Avoid expletives, inappropriate pictures, and strong opinions on controversial subjects. These don’t offer opportunities for career promotion. Generally, hiring managers look for professional, responsible people who can collaborate productively with all coworkers.
4. Be Active and Engage
When building your personal brand, it isn’t enough to just have social media accounts. Remain active on all of your social media platforms. Engage with content regularly. “Like”, comment, share, and interact with others in your target industry. Build your network and show your passion for the field by being an active member of it. For more information about platforms, etiquette, and activity, see our post about using social media.
5. Network With Others
In addition to being active, network with others. Ask for endorsements and recommendations on LinkedIn. Reach out to present and former bosses, supervisors, and colleagues. Ask these people to help you. Strengthen your personal brand by displaying others’ testimonies to your skills and work ethic on LinkedIn. Also, this helps you get noticed by the right people in your field. See our post about building and leveraging your LinkedIn network.
6. Use Keywords
Use keywords in your LinkedIn profile and professional Facebook and Twitter accounts. Include as many search engine-friendly terms that apply to your skill set and experience. Use these terms multiple times. If you are a paid media specialist, include that phrase and any related terms at least once in each of your online profiles. Also, include these terms in the content you post. Additionally, include relevant hashtags. Hiring managers perform keyword searches on networking platforms and through search engines. When they do, ensure that your profile appears on their screen.
7. Professional Website
When building your personal brand, consider setting up your own professional website. Include a blog, a list of your achievements, and an online portfolio. Particularly, those in creative fields benefit from setting up their own websites. The same rules apply as to social media platforms. Consequently, the website should look professional and use relevant keywords. Above all, show that you are serious professional who takes initiative and has a lot of pride in oneself. Finally, link your own personal website to your LinkedIn profile and print it on your business cards.
Final Thoughts
Build your career by developing and maintaining a carefully curated personal brand. For more information about the above tips, see our posts about using social media and optimizing your LinkedIn profile. Check out our Thought Leadership articles to learn more, or contact us to discuss your hiring and recruiting challenges.
