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How Your Online Presence Defines You

In today’s digital era, your online presence can say a lot about you even before you step into the room.

A recruiter might Google your name prior to interviewing you. A client may look at your portfolio before making contact with you. A business owner may check your social media profile before considering doing business with you.

That is why personal branding has become an essential component in career development.

Personal branding is not about playing pretend. It is about being yourself and communicating your message clearly to others.

What Is Personal Branding?

Personal branding is the practice of creating a consistent and memorable professional identity.

Your name, your portfolio, your social media presence, the way you present yourself in writing and in pictures, what you do, what you stand for, how you differentiate yourself – all this contributes to your personal brand.

Consider your personal brand your online reputation.

If someone googles your name on the internet, what should he/she think about you?

Creative?

Professional?

Strategic?

Trustworthy?

Knowledgeable?

First Impressions Are Increasingly Digital

First impressions used to be made through in-person meetings.

These days, first impressions can be made through a Google search, a LinkedIn account, an Instagram profile, a portfolio website, or even through an email.

Therefore, your digital footprint is incredibly significant.

A professional website may allow you to create a space for your work. It will let you present yourself, explain what services you offer, show off some projects, share your skills, and get in touch.

Your website goes beyond being just an accumulation of information.

It is your professional space on the web.

Showcase Your Skills Through Your Projects

One of the most common mistakes in personal branding is just listing skills.

Anybody can say:

“I know SEO.”

“I am good at social media.”

“I can create content.”

However, showcasing your work is more effective.

A portfolio will help show how you use these skills.

In case of a digital marketer, it may be social media strategies, content calendar, SEO research, websites, Canva graphics, advertisement ideas, branding and marketing strategies.

The work shows proof of your skills.

You do not tell people what you can do but show them.

Content Can Help Build Your Professional Image

Producing content is one of the most powerful methods of building authority.

You can write blogs, give marketing tips, talk about industry trends, post your project insights, make educational videos, or share your learnings from the process of learning.

You don’t need to know everything.

Actually, it’s a good idea to share your learnings because this way, your content will be more relatable.

For instance, a student of digital marketing can share his or her learnings about SEO, social media strategies, content creation, branding, and analytics.

Eventually, these articles will prove your progress.

Consistency Makes You Recognizable

Think about a brand using different colors, messages, and styles on every single platform.

It won’t be recognizable.

The same goes for personal branding.

Your website, LinkedIn profile, Instagram, and other professional pages have to communicate your image consistently.

It doesn’t mean replicating the content on all of them.

It means maintaining a unified visual style, tone, values, and professional message.

Professional Isn’t Necessarily Boring

For many, professional branding seems to imply using a fancy vocabulary and establishing an extremely formal personality.

It does not.

Professionalism can be creative as well.

An effective personal brand can be modern, sleek, confident, approachable, and visually engaging.

Your personality traits can be incorporated into your professional persona.

The point is to know how to deliver it in a proper way.

Authenticity Ensures Credibility

Personal branding shouldn’t turn into a sort of a performance.

Many people usually understand whether something is real or not.

Authenticity will make your communication more credible.

You will be able to tell about your interests, creative process, experiences, failures, successes, and goals without sacrificing your professionalism.

There is no need to be perfect.

Sometimes, it may be more effective to demonstrate the process of growing up.

Your Personal Brand Will Change Over Time

Your personal brand isn’t something that you create once and leave as it is.

When you grow, get new skills, gain experience, and become clear about your career objectives, your personal brand will change.

Initially, you were concerned with learning and creating projects.

Then, you might highlight your clients’ campaigns, professional accomplishments, case studies, and specialization.

Build Before the Time Comes

Among the best opportunities for building one’s personal brand is when you don’t desperately need an opportunity.

Do not delay building a portfolio until you will be looking for a job.

Do not delay publishing your portfolio until you will need some clients.

Do not delay explaining to an interviewer what can you offer.

Develop your online representation continuously.

When the time comes, your work will be already there.

Conclusion

Personal branding is not all about being famous.

It is about being recognizable, credible, and memorable in your professional environment.

Your online presence must make people clearly see who you are and what you have to offer.

The skills make your value.

The work makes the evidence of your skills.

The personal brand promotes your value to the world.

In the era of Internet, the name becomes much more than just a name.

It becomes a professional identity.