Wikipedia estimates that roughly 25% of the world’s population is using the internet regularly. Facebook has over 500 million users spread across the globe, and Twitter receives millions of visits a day. Social media is a huge part of the world we live in today, and you can use it to build your personal brand.
Just what is a personal brand?
Your personal brand is a lot like the branding for any large company. It includes the services you offer, your personality, your personal image, and any imagery, text, or other relevant media directly associated with you. Anyone looking to break into a competitive industry, or just stay competitive in the industry they’re already a part of should be worried about building up a strong personal brand, and social media can help.
Before you go any further, think about your personal brand. Figure out what skills you have that you want to push, and what industry you want to push them in. Figure out what sort of imagery you want to associate with yourself. Every social media site lets you set a profile picture, so think about what you want your profile picture to be.
Once you have a clear idea in your mind about your personal brand, it’s time to start implementing it. Sign up for Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and any other sites you feel you would use on a regular basis. Be consistent about y our username, profile picture, and profile information. The idea here is that you want people to know who you are across all of the sites you use. By being consistent, you’re making it easy for people to identify you easily.
Now just start using those sites. Talk with people interested in your field, and with other people in your field. Speak your mind, and make yourself known. Remember to be friendly, and personable with the people you talk to. People use social media sites to make a connection with other people, and that’s what you have to give them in order to build your brand. If someone asks you a question, be sure to answer it. If someone makes a comment directed right at you, be sure to respond to it. Over time, you’ll grow a strong personal brand, and that will help you advance your career, no matter what field you’re in.