Branding is not just for companies with fat budgets. Each and every individual with an online presence can carry out the branding process, and benefit from it. It comes down to controlling how you come across online. Namely, a personal brand is rooted in how you appear to the online community, the impression you make on people. And digital realm is a peculiar place where you can model and shape how others perceive you via a wide range of tools.
Tricks of the trade
The first step on the journey of personal branding is getting to know yourself. You need to be authentic and consistent, which is to say that personal brand must serve as a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. However, in order to become a go-to person in your niche or industry, you must display good communication skills. Namely, personal brands are enhanced a little bit whenever you answer visitors’ question, engage people in meaningful conversations, and simply add value to their daily lives.
Of course, communication is a two-way street, so always be open for feedback. You need to be seen and heard, but it is prudent to start small, and then make leaps and bound as you grow your audience. You will not be able to land the best opportunities right away, but work on some articles that demonstrate your credibility. You have to speak from the position of knowledge, which means you are supposed to know your niche backwards and forwards.
Block by block
Build the reputation and authority by connecting with others, who have already covered all the bases and established a solid brand. Soon, you should get a chance to receive attention from media, online publishers and publications, provided that you show expertise, but also your human side. Hence, it is a good idea to step up the social media game: Flesh out your profiles with all the relevant information and stay in touch with your audience, as well as important influencers in your field of expertise.
Finally, bear in mind that having a website for your personal brand makes a real difference. The first thing to consider is a domain name, which echoes your values and persona. A .com domain is still the most widespread solution, but it is not always possible to secure it. On the other hand, a TLD like .me domain lets you take advantage of a handy suffix to form a word combo. The possibilities are virtually endless and are limited solely by your creativity.
At last, remember that both users and search engines seek quality content. Do not fail to harness the immense power of visual elements, and let them complement your articles or blog posts. Get a hold of the SEO basics, strive to improve your ranking, and make it to the first few pages of the SERPs. Finally, it is of the utmost importance to monitor how you are doing online, and commit to the constant process of self-improvement.
Brand new persona
To get your personal branding right, you need to build your following, make connections, come up with fresh content, and interact with people. The goal is to uncover your true self and share it with the world. Also, you want to keep a close eye on your Google rankings, and make sure your website is visible and integrated with social media. Once you manage to forge your personal brand, the job is not yet done: You have to maintain a good reputation, monitor your presence and tweak it to perfection.
Dan Radak is a marketing professional with ten years of experience. He is a coauthor on several websites and regular contributor to BizzMark Blog. Currently, he is working with a number of companies in the field of digital marketing, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies.