Personal Branding and Social Media

When it comes to personal branding, a lot more goes into it than simply existing on social media. It is important to define yourself, decide how you want to market your knowledge and personality to your audience, create a game plan and manage your brand. That being said, each of these steps can be further broken down so they may be easier to follow and understand.
1. Define yourself. Personal branding is about you. This is your opportunity to talk about yourself. What are your goals and objectives? What do you want to accomplish? What have you already accomplished? Identifying who you are and where you would like to end up will help place you in the right areas of social media. For instance, if your ultimate goal is to work for an advertising firm, it is best that you connect with advertising firms and advertising professionals on LinkedIn and highlight your relatable skills on your social media pages. If you own a hair salon or a vet clinic, you should create a blog or post relevant topics related to your industry on your social media channels so you can position yourself as an expert. Your personal brand needs to represent you since it is about your reputation. Take the time to decide how you want to be seen. Just like any other brand, once people have perceived you one way, it is hard to change their minds. Give them a positive image.
2. Plan of action. What are you going to do to get noticed by the right people? How is your use of social media helping you? Personal branding requires being present online. This will allow you to build a larger web presence for yourself. There are many steps to building your brand, starting with involvement on important sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. These social networks give you the opportunity to learn more about the industry you are involved in or are looking to get involved in by connecting with those who are prominent in that industry. You can even include your website, portfolio and blogs on your social media pages. Your online presence is a convenient way for employers and potential clients to find you and see all of your traits and accomplishments, even before they meet you in person.
3. Managing your brand. Personal branding requires upkeep. Are your experiences and accomplishments up-to-date on LinkedIn? Be proactive. Post new skills you acquire, post about new jobs you get and make sure people are up-to-date with what you are doing overall. You, as a brand, are constantly evolving and you need to show that in your online presence and in person. Another key factor in managing your brand is not only how you portray yourself online, but also how you are represented in person. If you have a job interview or a client meeting, be mindful of your clothing and appearance so that future employer or client will take you seriously. Make sure you let your personality show. Recruiters and prospects want to see if you will be the right fit for their company.
Your personal brand is heavily influenced by your online presence, but who you are and how you interact with others in person is also crucial. Make the first impression a positive one! When it comes to branding yourself properly, be honest, stay updated and stay consistent.
Personal branding is extra important to entrepreneurs that a lot of times are the face of their companies. Writers, media hosts, fashion and beauty professionals, business consultants often need to establish a strong personal branding in order to promote their services. A consistent graphic representation of your brand is also essential.  
For more information regarding personal and company branding services in Orlando, follow us on Facebook and Twitter or contact us to schedule a meeting or a seminar.
Here are some other relevant articles related to personal branding:
– How To Brand Yourself To Live a Happier Life
– Personal Brand: Why You Need One and How to Establish One
– The Brand Called You
– Three Steps to Making Giving Your Personal Branding Strategy
– Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Compelling Personal Brand — And How to Build It