Use social media websites to build a personal brand.
Personal branding occurs when an individual builds a personal brand based on his areas of interests and strengths. For college students, building a personal brand while attending college may be beneficial for creating long-term career success after graduation. Personal branding involves many aspects such as an individual's knowledge, appearance and career ambitions.
Choosing a Brand
Choose a specific brand based on your areas of interest such as fashion consultant, social media expert or technical expert. Fully commit to the direction of the personal brand to successfully promote yourself. Once the branding process begins, it will be somewhat difficult to change the message of the brand.
Self-Promotion
Begin the extremely important process of self-promotion. Begin by joining social media websites and groups. Promote a personal brand by giving employers many options to communicate with you such as online portfolios and blogs. Promote a business brand by generating interest in your niche services such as handing out business cards and posting fliers.
Consistency
Consistency is important when building a personal brand as consistency demonstrates reliability and encourages trust. To build a consistent personal brand, create a brand message or mission statement and use the statement throughout all methods of self-promotion. Use the same name and professional picture for all social media accounts, blogs, portfolios, business cards and other methods of self-promotion.
Networking
Another key element of personal branding is networking, or the practice of gathering contacts. Networking works by building relationships with like-minded people for the purpose of career advantages. To network, join college groups, volunteer or attend networking events.
Improvements
Connect with the target audience and listen to any concerns regarding the personal brand. Make improvements when necessary. Interview and consult with professionals in the marketing industry about ways to improve the brand.
Conversation
Use casual conversation as a method of sharing the personal brand with others. Find ways to weave the personal brand message into casual conversations. Avoid talking too much about the brand as this may create disinterest. When in conversation, provide others with alternative ways to communicate with you, such as email or commenting on your blog entries.
Stay Professional
When building a brand it is essential to conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. Be sure to choose a professional sounding name and picture for all self-promotional materials. Avoid unprofessional behavior such as cursing, posting inappropriate photos and over-sharing about personal matters. Behaving unprofessionally is one of the fastest ways to destroy a personal brand.
Grow the Brand
After building the personal brand, grow the brand and portfolio by offering niche services to various organizations. Use a niche area of interest to stand apart from others. Spend time and energy on growing the brand, as a personal brand is essential to a successful career.
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