Building your personal brand online

Building your personal brand online

Businesses consistently ask me about building their brand online. As the population continues to use the Internet more and more, it is a great place for businesses to participate and share their brand. Interestingly, as individuals spend more time online, they are creating profiles or their own personal brands without even realizing it.

Some people are very cognizant of this fact and use their name and/or logo consistently online in order to be recognizable to whoever may find them in a variety of platforms. However, many people don’t even realize that everything they put out online contributes to the “brand” or perception of themselves to others. Having an awareness of how our actions shape our personal brands has a great impact upon our professional opportunities.

Almost every employer I know is using the Internet as a tool for weeding through prospective candidates prior to the first interview. Not only are employers using this tool, potential clients are as well. 

Are you aware of what an employer or potential client will learn about you online? For example, some people choose to upload photos of themselves to Facebook that they do not want their professional contacts or employers seeing. Someone may put out tweets about a particular interest or hobby that is in conflict with their professional personality.  You can do a quick Google search on yourself to find out what others are seeing or even set up Google alerts and be notified as new information appears.

In times past it was much simpler to separate your business and personal lives. However, if you choose to be socially visible online now, the lines are becoming blurred. It is critical that you make wise choices in how you use your voice online. 

*Kendall’s Tip:  Build your online brand as carefully and consciously as you do your professional resume.