Are you branding yourself in everything you do? Have you developed your personal brand? Are you taking the steps to manage it and refine it as it evolves?
“All of us need to understand the importance of branding… we are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. … our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called you”
Tom Peters in Fast Company
What is a personal brand?
Personal branding, or your career or professional brand, is how you present yourself. It encompasses how you are perceived by your colleagues and your network, both online and offline.
LinkedIn, blogging, and social networking are growing rapidly. People use search engines constantly, so it is crucial to portray your brand in a professional and positive light.
A company differentiates itself to stand out from its competitors. It does this by identifying and articulating its unique value proposition. You should do the same.
If you take a proactive approach to your personal brand, it can benefit your career.
How to take control of your personal brand
There are 10 critical steps to help you develop your personal brand.
1. Search the major search engines to search your name and its variations
Ensure you are aware of what search engines are saying about you.
- Is there someone else in the world who has the same name as you?
- Is your identity correct online?
- If there are variations of your name, have you searched those names?
The first step in establishing your personal brand, especially online, is to discover what is being said about you. Then, find out what information comes up first in the search engines about you.
Action to take: Learn how to correctly Google yourself.
2. Clean up your web presence
Are you looking to do some “spring cleaning” because you don’t like what you see online?
You want to erase some of your personal information from the Internet. You use tools to see how to “erase yourself” from the internet. Some websites are easy while others are virtually impossible.
For example, social networks like Twitter are easy to delete, while others like Pinterest are almost impossible.
Action to take: Clean up your online presence by using justdelete.me.
3. Proactive create your online reputation with free tools
Please create your website that lists all of your social networks with a free tool like about.me or brandyourself that will give you a letter grade relating to how your name ranks in search results.
Actions to take: Read how to manage your personal brand. Also, launch a blog (see step 7).
4. Claim your social media profiles and your personalized URL on LinkedIn
Have you protected yourself from cyber squatters regarding your social media profiles? Is your name available on critical social media networks like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook?
Actions to take: To ensure you secure your desired username or vanity first, visit namechk.com to see if it is still available. You should also secure your personalized URL on LinkedIn.
5. Buy your own domain name (even if you are not using it yet)
Do you own the URL of your name or blog name? If not, you should secure it at a website registrar like godaddy.com.
You may want to read why you should buy a domain name for your child.
Owning your domain name ensures better search result rankings. If you use that URL, you will rank high. If you don’t own your name, you leave your online reputation in the hands of the unknown. Purchasing your name is about $15 a year.
6. Set up an ongoing monitoring alert system
It is essential to constantly watch what is being said about you online. When you create the alerts, make sure you put your name with and without quotation marks. You should also include the different variations of your name.
Action to take: Set up Google Alerts.
7. Launch a blog where you can publish content and show your perspectives
I found that my blog is ranked within the top 5 search results in Google. You may want to create and publish content on your blog using a platform like WordPress.com.
Remember that the Internet is a copy machine when you start a blog.
Think before you publish. If you get angry or emotionally react to something you see online, you may want to email yourself first.
If someone else provokes you, ask yourself:
Would my parents, friends, or colleagues like to read this post?
A blog is an excellent way to showcase your personal brand. It helps you position yourself in a way that you want to be seen. A blog allows you to grow your network beyond your work colleagues. It positions you as a thought leader at your company.
A blog demonstrates your expertise on a topic or topics. It demonstrates that you possess the skills to write and communicate effectively. These are skills your current and potential future employers value.
8. Take some time to get to know yourself and share helpful content regularly
What do you want others to think of you as online? What types of articles do you share with others? Are they personal growth articles, leadership articles, or career articles? What do you want to be known for?
Your personal brand reflects who you are. It is essential to truly understand your strengths and weaknesses and do what you love.
If you can’t blog, do you share useful tips with your colleagues? Do you offer insights about the industry you work in? Or, do you give advice on improving PR or marketing?
9. Create your elevator pitch and key messages
A company’s brand creates its elevator pitch of who the company is. It explains why it is unique. It also covers why you should care. The same goes for your personal brand.
- Do you have your elevator pitch created and validated?
- What are your core or key messages?
You should have your elevator pitch ready in certain places. Examples include your LinkedIn summary section or your bio page on your blog. That paragraph or two should summarize your personal brand in a short, concise, and compelling way.
10. Develop a feedback loop with those you trust and evolve your personal brand
Just like company brands change over time, your personal brand constantly evolves.
You gain more work and life experiences. Your brand changes to show who you are at work and in life.
Establishing a feedback loop with friends, family, colleagues, and other trusted individuals is essential. They help you polish and refine yourself and your personal brand.
Action to take: Ask for feedback from your friends, family, and colleagues. Ask others to give you feedback about your personal brand.
Build your board of directors.
Bringing it all together
As Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, once said:
“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
Jeff Bezos, founder, Amazon
Do you know what people are saying about your personal brand online and offline? Are you taking steps to build, polish, and refine it? The key is to remember that your personal brand is more than just your job; it is your career.
It is the brand called you!
What helpful tips would you add to this list of steps to building and managing your personal brand?
Join my email newsletter for a free eBook and more helpful insights.