New Year, New You - How to Build a Personal Brand

Not only is a strong personal brand the best way to diversify yourself from a stack of resumes, it’s a powerful way to highlight your expertise and tell your story.
Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Know yourself

Your personal brand works most effectively when it tells a cohesive story — the story of you. To help you get there, take some time to formalize your values and goals. Thinking about the interests, values and capabilities you want to highlight ahead of time will help to guide you when interacting with your network. You might even want to create a document that outlines these values to quickly reference when sharing content.

2. Build an online presence

Building a website may seem like a daunting task. However, with many free domains and web hosting sites, you can easily create your personal site with only a few clicks! To get started, include your resume, a brief bio and links to your social media profiles. Then, as your personal brand grows, you can expand your website to include blogs, industry best practices, examples of your work, etc.

3. Select the platforms that work best to promote your brand.

Identify your target audience to determine the platforms you should use to appeal to them. For example, if you are in a visual creative field, appeal to your target audience through a visual network like Instagram. Or, if you’re in a professional field, try using LinkedIn. Selecting the appropriate platform will ensure you are getting the best exposure for your brand.

4. Build and manage your marketing network

Friends, colleagues, clients and customers are powerful resources when it comes to marketing your personal brand. Their feedback and comments can affect the way future connections view your brand. Make sure to be attentive and responsive to your existing connections while growing and developing your professional network with people in your field and related fields.

5. Listen and share news in your industry

Make sure to stay on top of relevant news and exciting events in your industry. Not only will this ensure that you know your industry inside and out, it will also increase your credibility as a reliable source of information in your field. As a bonus, sharing articles, press releases and other credible sources is another great way to expand your professional network.

6. Be consistent

Consistency is imperative in successful branding. This includes when, where and how you market yourself. Create a schedule for posting new content. Make sure all content reflects your formalized beliefs and values, and, that you are consistently using the same social media platforms for sharing.

7. Audit yourself

Remember, it’s easier to be proactive than reactive! Stay on top of your public image by googling yourself on a regular basis. Make sure the search results represent your beliefs and values. Remove any images or content that are not consistent with your branding efforts.

With so much of our life spent in the digital universe, the importance of personal branding is essential in crafting your online presence. By taking these easy steps to define and adhere to your personal brand, you will be empowered to broadcast exactly what you want to your network, future employers and the world. A strong personal brand will set you apart from the competition and enhance your professional value.

Ready to get started? Contact your local Adecco branch and speak to a skilled Recruitment Consultant today!