Brand Yourself!

Social media has completely changed how people interact with one another. Instead of picking up the phone and calling someone, you can simply instant message them on Facebook or send them a direct message on Twitter. Equivalently, many people turn to reviews online to find out if a product is worth buying. Many people have turned to shopping online for just about anything because it is quick and you can buy necessary items from the comfort of your home. How does this major change in communication affect those trying to make a name for themselves? Is it easier for them or does the readily available information allow everyone to being their own business, meaning more competition?

I found an interesting article, written by Yohana Desta, that describes 10 tips for the 'lazy person' to help create a personal brand. Creatively titled "The Lazy Person's Guide to Personal Branding," this article gives some good advice for anyone beginning their journey of creating their own brand. While I will not go through all 10 points, because I want you to click the link above and go check it out yourself, I will discuss some of my favorites. 

The first bit of advice Desta gives is to stop and think about what you actually want your brand to be. Many people skip this important first step because they are too excited to begin their personal brand. Slow down and look at what your expertise includes, that way you can exactly pinpoint what your brand should be.

The next bits of advice that caught my attention go hand-in-hand. You need to find your niche and label your expertise. Join the group that works with what you want your brand to be and label your brand as such. You need to make your labels specific and unique. Tell your audience exactly what you stand for and what your brand is.

The final topic I want to address is one of the most important. Desta says it is important to check all of your current social media sites to make sure the messages portrayed through posts on social media are consistent with the messages and values you want others to see. If your company wants to be family friendly, posting images of alcohol and partying probably is not the best option for you. 

If you're looking to begin a your personal brand, I encourage you to check out the article! These tips can be used to simply clean up your personal social media profiles. Even if you aren't trying to sell a product, you're selling yourself to friends and possible future employers!