Whether you know it or not, you already have a personal brand. Your information, in one form or another, is out there for the world to see unless you have completely avoided the social media movement (and even then, you’re still making a statement). The good news is that you have control over how you’re perceived online. Here are five tips on crafting a solid personal brand that looks great in both your inner circles and in your professional network.
1. Solidify your values and make them known.
Everyone has values and personal goals for themselves. If you haven’t considered what your boundaries are, especially when presenting yourself online, it’s time to think about it. Consider the standard you want to hold yourself to and implement it, ensuring your website (if you have one) and social media profiles look uniform in these values. Make your goals known as part of your brand, whether that be to find a job in publishing, to run a mile or to learn how to bake. And consider what you don’t want to share with the world. What’s your policy on posting even slightly inappropriate photos online, even if it’s just on your personal Instagram? Do you post political content? Do you cuss? The bottom line: You can take control over how you’re perceived online.
2. Own your space and never stop learning.
An exciting part of building a personal brand is that you can showcase what you’re good at and what interests you. Do you love photography and thrive on Instagram? Own that passion and convey it at the forefront of your social media presence. Communicate your strengths and highlight your achievements. Going beyond this, make an effort to consistently learn about where you can succeed and find things you love. Follow likeminded people and influencers in the same space, read relevant interviews, articles and studies. Read books. Go to workshops, take tutorials or sign up for classes. Never stop learning about your passions. Your presence will only be stronger as you gain credibility.
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3. Identify what makes you unique.
What makes you different from the other self-proclaimed experts in your field, who also have great LinkedIn profiles and who have great professional headshots on all their social media platforms? Position yourself as someone who takes an interesting or unique angle on whatever it is you’re presenting to the world. For example, you’re not just a photographer — you’re a northwest wildlife photographer who uses a personalized filter and close-up shots for each project. Distinguish yourself. Blending in is not the goal.
4. Engage with your colleagues and peers across multiple social media platforms.
If you want to be noticed by important people or you just want a healthy online presence, communicating with peers and colleagues is extremely important. Like or comment on LinkedIn posts, connect with Instagram influencers who have similar interests or highlight a colleague’s accomplishment. No matter what platforms you use, be consistent across all of them in your engagement.
5. Post often (but not too often).
Each social media platform is different in terms of audience, content and posting frequency. On some platforms, like Twitter, it’s totally normal to post once an hour (or more). On Instagram, on the other hand, the frequency is fare less. Know when is optimal to post and find out what works for you. Don’t blow up your audience’s feed with small updates, but don’t go MIA, either. The key is to only post meaningful content, and at a strategic frequency.
