Earlier, when we used to talk about branding, we would limit it to only celebrities or fortune 500 companies.
Today, the scenario has changed. Having a personal brand online is vital for your professional growth. Like any corporate brand representing a business, a personal brand talks about ‘you.’ Your personal brand is representative of your values, professional skills, what you do, and your niche.
Having a personal brand on social media allows you to create and share content related to your work. This way, potential clients can learn and know about you. Building a personal brand online can be a tedious task, but it can land you your next big project or help you make valuable connections.
To make sure your personal brand works for you, follow the 10-step guide below.
Make a website of your own
One of the most crucial steps in establishing a personal brand online is to create a website of your own. A website can work as your resume. It can include your work portfolio, your skillset, projects you have worked on, awards and accolades you have won, social media handles, testimonials from your previous clients, your contact details, and a lot more.
It is an online representation of who you are.
The most important thing you need to build a website is a domain name. Registering your website with a unique domain extension rather than the conventional ones can help you stand out.
For instance, if you’re a marketing specialist or a content writer, finding www.yourname.icu will be a lot easier than www.yourname.com.
Make sure to keep your website address short and concise so that it’s easy to remember for anyone who comes across it. Also, choosing the right domain name for your website can help you nail that first impression.
READ: 11 Ultimate Rules for Picking a Domain Name for Your Business
Highlight your area of expertise
The next big step in building a strong personal brand on social media is to showcase your skills or expertise. This way, you’ll be able to define yourself and your personal brand. Research about your competition and the market and think about how you can stand out from them.
Everyone has specific skills or an area they’re an expert in. It can be content marketing, finance, fashion, finance, or any other thing. It’s fundamental to define your area of expertise so that people get to know about you.
One of the best ways to describe yourself on social media is to write about your interest, skills, and work in the description section and to create relevant content around it. Make sure you use the correct keywords so that people can find you easily.
Update your social media accounts
Learn about all social media platforms and their significance. Then decide which social media platform will be best suited for your personal brand.
Ensure you upload your latest work samples on your accounts and delete all the unnecessary information that no longer provides value to you.
Keep in mind that all the details you upload are complete, accurate, crisp, and clear to understand. Remember to check every piece of content you upload on the platform is easy to read and understand. This way, your potential clients can assess you quickly and offer you projects.
Build a blog
If you already have a blog, then starting your website around it can be a smart plan.
Most recruiters and employers want to learn and know more about their employees before hiring them. Consistent blogging will give employers an insight into your skillset, preferences, and opinions and help establish you as an expert in your niche.
Make sure to link all your social media accounts to your blog. The whole idea is to welcome people into your world so that they can understand you better.
If you are a fashion designer, starting a blog about various fashion trends or tips can be a good start. Remember to include links to your social media handles such as your LinkedIn or YouTube channel.
Using a unique and meaningful domain name for your blog and social media such as www.fashiontips.icu will allow you to make a remarkable impression in front of your audience.
Set up a brand vision
Quoting author Simon Sinek, “People don’t buy what you do, but why you do it.”
A brand vision is like writing a mission statement. It paints a vivid image in your mind of how you want your brand to be perceived. A well-drafted brand vision helps you move forward from your current state to where you aspire to be.
A brand vision, for instance, can be written as ‘I help freelancers win more clients and make more money.’ Here you talk about the services you provide and how it can be beneficial for others.
Create engaging content regularly
In the initial days of social media, your engagement depended on how often you would post.
Today, the scenario has changed. Over-posting can lead to annoyance and irrelevancy. It is essential to engage with your audience but avoid oversharing. The sweet spot between is to post 3-4 times a week.
Apart from this, share content you have created to showcase your knowledge. Also, post content related to the latest trends in your area of expertise. This way, your audience knows that you have proficiency and awareness.
Also, don’t hesitate to share about yourself occasionally. Talk about your hobbies, achievements, or personal life. Give your audience a small glimpse into your life. Additionally, it’s good to engage with your audience by responding to their messages and comments.
READ: Low-Cost Branding Tips for Your Small Business
Be part of groups
Facebook and LinkedIn both offer opportunities to join groups related to your niche. You may look into these groups, share your insights, and spread the word about your personal brand.
Keep in mind that some of these groups might also have your competitors or can be overcrowded. Joining small, topic-based groups can be more beneficial for your personal brand.
Some ways in which social media groups can help you are:
- Sharing and getting ideas
- Receiving feedback
- Gaining confidence
- Being updated with the latest trends
- Building connections
Develop a consistent message
Decide on what message you want to reinforce among your audience. Once you are sure of that message, communicate it on all your social media channels.
The more consistent you are about what you want to be known for, the more credibility and trust you build among your potential clients.
Find your unique voice and stay true to it. This will help you to establish a powerful personal brand.
Get yourself a professional email address
Getting a professional email address will make you come around as a professional rather than an amateur. It will make you look authentic and inspire confidence among your audience.
If you’re planning to build a strong personal brand for yourself, investing in a professional email address is a must.
Choose a unique domain name that suits the character of your personal brand. For instance, if you have a website name www.fashiontips.icu you can choose [email protected] as your professional email address.
A professional email address will also help you create a lasting first impression.
Make use of social media analytics
Establishing a personal brand on social media takes a lot of time and effort. You want to make sure that all the time and effort you invest is proving to be beneficial.
Check social media analytics to find out if your strategy is working or not.
Using social media analytics will help you know if you are targeting the right audience, what kind of posts on your feed people engage with the most, and about your competitors too.
Overall, it helps you make structured decisions regarding your personal brand.
Conclusion
Building your personal brand on social media is not an overnight process. It takes considerable time and effort. It’s not about how you look or where you come from but about who you are and what you stand for that matters.
While creating a personal brand, think long-term. Take notes on what’s working and not working out for you. Make sure to use a meaningful domain name, which will help you create a strong personal brand.
Eshan is a Senior Marketing Specialist at ShortDot, the registry behind some of the most successful new domain extensions, including .icu, .bond, and .cyou. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.
