Everyone has a personal brand, whether they know it or not. Your online reputation, what you put out into the world, and what people say about you online all contribute to your personal branding. Embrace your own personal branding and shape how you’re perceived on the net!

What is Personal Branding?

Although in the past branding was reserved for companies, today, with the growth of social media and increasingly individualized society, personal branding has become crucial. Personal branding is a representation of yourself as an individual. It is a combination of skills and experiences that define you.

Oprah Winfrey is among the gurus of personal branding. The talk show host and billionaire philanthropist has continually striven to build a unique and genuine personal brand. Oprah is renowned for challenging her viewers and followers to become the best versions of themselves by encouraging and marketing about their potential. By being true to herself, Oprah has inspired millions of people globally.

Importance of Personal Branding

You may think that personal branding isn’t useful to you, but if you have an online presence —use Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn— your persona is already online. As such, you must invest in personal branding to control how you present yourself. Here are some of the benefits of personal branding:

• It differentiates you from other people and allows you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

• It enables you to build trust with prospective customers and employers.

• It opens up numerous opportunities, including job interviews, internships, networking opportunities, promotions, and partnerships.

• Someone will be screening you online. Whether it is your employer, college, or a potential date. Currently, many employers (70%) look at candidate’s social media when hiring. Therefore, it may be an advantage if a prospective employer finds a positive reputation online.

Do’s and Don’ts of Personal Branding

Do’s

• Do conduct an audit: before you start developing your personal brand, determine its current state. You can do this by typing your name on Google to see the results it brings. Then, based on the results, you can weed out the wrong information.

• Do set personal branding goals: determine what you want to be known for. Do you want to be an industry thought leader, a popular consultant, an expert in DIY tasks, an influencer?

• Do be intentional: ensure that your online activities align with your personal brand. When posting, sharing, and engaging online, have your personal brand in mind.

• Do share value: make a habit of sharing helpful resources and interesting articles with your followers. Do not just self-promote; present yourself as a valuable resource for others.

• Do be authentic: don’t be what others want you to be. Be yourself and let your personality show clearly.

• Be consistent with your brand.

Don’ts

• Don’t overshare: not everyone wants to know everything that is happening in your life. Some personal life events are best kept offline.

• Don’t try ‘fake it till you make it’: your personal brand is not a disguise or your future self. It is the real you.

• Don’t be preachy: don’t be the kind of person who talks down on others on social media because they don’t share your opinion or idea. Instead, strive to create meaningful connections with others.

• Don’t be one-note: you want to stand out in your personal branding. The best way to do so is to get creative. For example, make lively videos rather than only text posts.   

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. At times a little help can go a long way. Consider meeting with a consultant like myself, or hiring a personal branding expert to guide you on how to present your online self more productively.

Personal branding is fundamental in the current digital era. Whether you are looking for an employer or more sales for your business, you can never go wrong with branding. The bottom line is to be honest, transparent, and genuine in your branding. Remember that developing a great personal brand does not happen overnight; it takes time and effort.