Oprah, Bezos, Obama, Beyonce. What do these people have in common? The mere mention of their names evokes an image and a feeling in you. That’s the power of a personal brand.
So, what is a personal brand and why does it matter anyway?
To quote one of the aforementioned people, Jeff Bezos, “branding is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” What do people think about the content you share online? Where do you stand on the major issues?
You may be wondering, well, what does that have to do with anything?
The world runs on information. Data has surpassed oil in value. You either own the story or you don’t. With the rise of fake news and misinformation, having and owning your personal brand online makes a huge difference. It establishes you as an authority and guarantees that you control the narrative.
So, how do you build a lasting personal brand online? Here are some easy tips to get you started.
Audit your personal brand online
What pops up when you search your name on Google? Do you even appear anywhere?
Typically called the “Google test,” your search results provide a baseline level to start building or tweaking your online presence. For example, if you find embarrassing photos or comments you made long ago that no longer reflect your current views, it’s time to track and take them down.
Given, the internet never forgets, but taking proactive steps now saves you lots of pain down the road.
Get social
Social media provides one of the most surefire ways to build an online presence. It connects you with like-minded people and allows you to build a following.
Generally, the more followers you have on social media, the greater your reach. However, you don’t need millions of followers to have a solid online personal brand.
Instead, focus on your “tribe” – a group of passionate followers willing to share and amplify your posts and ideas. Having a loyal tribe eliminates the need for a large following because you have access to your tribe’s social networks.
Publish a personal online biography
A personal biography reads like an online CV where you outline your journey and accomplishments. For example, take a look at Kris Duggan’s bio on Everybodywiki. It systematically lists his history and demonstrates his expertise through the companies he’s founded or worked with.
An online bio forms a quick portal for people to find more about you. It also anchors your presence online, further boosting your brand awareness.
Create a content marketing strategy
Content marketing is one of the easiest ways to build authority online. For instance, top industry thought-leaders use blogs, social media updates, articles, opinion pieces, research reports etc. to cement their expertise in an area.
The more you share quality content around your industry, or area of expertise, the more others online view you as an authority.
However, it takes time and effort to build a large body of work to attract authority online. So pace yourself and focus on a narrow topic to begin with. Then keep building from there.
Connect via outreach
Finally, you can’t build a personal brand online alone. Reach out to other people. Connect through LinkedIn, for example. Talk to other people in the industry through email and other forums. The bigger (and better quality) your network, the more opportunities you’ll have to take your online brand to the next level.
