Five Steps For Personal Branding Development

You have a personal brand, whether you know it or not. It’s how you present yourself to others. It’s your ethics, your habits, your actions, and your style. Whether or not you work to create your best personal brand is up to you. However, as career and business strategist Megan Dalla-Camina argues, your career can depend on it.

In her recent Women’s Agenda post, Your Personal Brand Matters, Dalla-Camina stressed the importance of personal branding development for all professionals. Whether you’ve already put some time into your brand or are just beginning, her advice is a great starting place for beginners and a good refresher for those looking to reevaluate their brand. Here’s what she says:

1. Start with an authentic foundation

The key to a successful brand is ensuring that it is an accurate representation of you. If you’re trying to be something else, you may find yourself in the wrong job, with the wrong expectations placed on you. Stick to your strengths and strongest qualities for your best brand and professional wellbeing. Not sure how to define your personal brand? Career Cast and Wet Feet both have great advice on narrowing it down. Bottom line, keep it authentic.

2. Utilizing your brand in the workplace

Dalla-Camina’s second personal branding development point is to make the most of your brand in your career. Can you do that in your current role and your workplace? Do you utilize your strengths regularly, and do you feel fulfilled by what you’re doing? If your work seems to stifle your spirit or passions, or just doesn’t work with your brand, you may be in the wrong career. Empower yourself and see where your strengths can take you. A career change may be a better choice for your brand and wellbeing.

Does your brand fit in at your current workplace? If you're not utilizing all your strengths and establishing your personal brand, it may be time for a career change.

3. Own your niche

As Dalla-Camina points out, you and your personal brand have got to be known for something. Having a niche or defined area of expertise makes your brand recognizable and memorable. An expertise makes you credible and prompts others listen. As Personal Branding Blog points out, an expertise also requires maintenance and keeping up. Stay relevant with industry news and be active in the community. Being a thought leader in your niche can gain respect for your brand. Reach out to others in the community of your field to widen your base and expand your network in the right direction.

4. Solidify your brand with character

Your brand is comprised of how you represent yourself, and that representation is largely made up of your actions and behaviors. Create a good track record for your brand by being generous, punctual, respectful, and showing gratitude to others always. Actions speak louder than words, so keep your behaviors consistent across the board. Your brand and reputation are at stake.

5. Take it online

Dalla-Camina’s last personal branding development point stresses the importance of reflecting your brand online. Google yourself to see what appears, and do what you can to remove anything negative. Then, take the steps to portray your strengths online. Fully represent yourself with a blog, LinkedIn, other social media, and your own website. Like Dalla-Camina says, an online first impression can make or break your brand. Invest in the best possible digital representation with a Squarespace website. Their designs are award-winning, and with a domain in your own name, you’ll have the best possible first impression on the web.

What do you think of Dalla-Camina’s advice for personal branding development? Did she leave anything important out? Let us know what you think and leave a comment below.

Personal Branding in the Workplace: Styling Your Brand

Branding is all about representing yourself in the best possible way. You want to leave a good impression with others. You want to be memorable everywhere you go – especially in your career. Personal branding in the workplace reflects in your actions and your appearance. How you present yourself, whether you like it or not, is a representation of your brand. That’s why it’s essential to dress the part.

Dressing for your brand means something different to everyone. Not only does it depend on the essence of your brand, but your style is also influenced by your working environment, body type, age, and personal preferences. If your career is in finance, you probably have less wiggle room to brand your working style than someone in the creative field. Take these factors into consideration when building your branded wardrobe.

Standing out with style

In a recent post by Ariella Coombs on Career Realism, she wrote about the importance of dressing the part for your personal brand. Coombs suggested using style as a tool of expression in the workplace. While many employees try their best to blend in, few venture out of the standard working apparel. Even those with strict dress codes can make small gestures for a big impact on their brand.

Establish your personal brand in the workplace through accent color. Red conveys confidence and determination.

Coombs proposed professionals wear eye-catching and on-trend items. Shoes and accessories are easy ways to work around tight dress codes. Accent colors can have a powerful affect on an outfit’s entire look. Coombs also suggested branders wear current and trendy outfits to present themselves as modern, innovative, and confident.

When fashion hurts your brand

Interestingly, another article written this week argued against wearing trendy clothing. CEO Richard A. Moran wrote on the woes of fashion missteps in the workplace from a man’s perspective in his article, "Skinny Suits and Interviews." Specifically, he called out men who wear very on-trend skinny suits, which he claim only look good on Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and men in GQ magazines.

“Fashion is instant language.”

— Miuccia Prada

Moran’s point is valid. Wearing trendy apparel in the workplace can work sometimes, if the attire fits well, is comfortable, and is appropriate for the working environment. Despite Coombs urging women to reach for trendier attire, this advice must be taken into consideration of the brand for each professional.

Branding your work wear

The Art Institute offers great advice for building a branded work wardrobe. When it comes to personal branding in the workplace, your closet has no room for clutter. Start by clearing out old items that don’t earn their place in your wardrobe. Donate anything that isn’t worn often or doesn’t best reflect your brand to make room for your new branded style. Working with less allows you to customize your look to match your brand.

Transferring your personal brand to your closet can be a daunting task. However, focusing on small, doable changes can ease you into the look you want. Think of designing your wardrobe like the design of your business card. It should demonstrate your professionalism without dismissing your personality and style.

The Fashion Spot advises you find a signature piece or look and keep you outfits consistent. Maybe you have a certain color you wear all the time. Maybe you wear wacky socks, a strand of pearls, or a type of bag. Style doesn’t have to be excessive – a minimalistic look with a statement item can be a powerful call to your brand.

Style is important for promoting your brand in real life. But are you matching that style online? Find the perfect fit with a Squarespace website. The award-winning platform is a fantastic support for anyone looking to take their personal brand online. All templates are mobile-ready to take your brand anywhere. Dress your brand up with an aesthetically designed Squarespace website for the best digital experience online.

When it comes to personal branding in the workplace, style is an essential. How do you incorporate your personal brand into your work wardrobe? Share your ideas and advice and leave a comment below!

Personal Branding On Twitter

Personal branding is about utilizing all the resources available to you. That’s why many professionals turn to social media to spread their brand. Social media allows you to reach your audience on a more personal level. It allows you to show the different areas of your brand and to interact with your followers more easily. That’s why Twitter is ideal for all your personal branding needs.

Why Twitter?

There are so many social media platforms to utilize, but Twitter is one you should definitely invest some time in. Interns Over 40 recently made some great points on the benefits of Twitter over Facebook for branding. Twitter tends to be less personal than Facebook and its sharing potential is practically limitless. Think of Twitter as a micro-blog for your brand. You can tweet brand updates, links to articles, and interact with other influencers in the field easily in snippets of 140 characters.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of Twitter is its user’s visibility. Unlike some social networks where your updates are only seen by a certain designated few, your tweets can be read and retweeted by millions of Twitter users.

Twitter can open your personal brand up to millions of users.

Brand meets Twitter

Personal branding is about consistency across the board, and that applies to your Twitter account. Use your professional name and stick to whatever handle, or username, you’ve been using on other social media sites to maximize visibility. Use a professional photo for your image and link to your website, LinkedIn, and blog.

Likable Daily and Web Ink Now both stress the importance of utilizing the bio of your Twitter account. This will be one of the first things others will see and should be utilized to make your account a stand-out. Some Twitter users make a watered-down list of their resume while others utilize search engine optimization with buzzwords. Don’t be afraid to experiment with hashtags, quotes, or snippets that will demonstrate your brand’s personality and attitude. Mashable has some great advice for coming up with the perfect Twitter bio.

Branding one tweet at a time

Personal branding on Twitter, like all outlets, should be focused. There’s not a lot of wiggle room in 140 characters, so learning the art of concise tweeting is essential. When building your brand on Twitter, do not deviate from it in your tweets. Tweet only updates on your brand, links to your website or blog, relevant retweets, and links to applicable articles. This way, other users will know exactly what they’re getting into and will be more likely to follow you.

Building a following

On Twitter, numbers are perceived as power. That’s why some celebrities and politicians pay for followers. Having a substantial following is eye-catching and demands respect. Aim to build a following by consistently posting tweets relevant to your brand. Post regularly and frequently. Keep your posts thought-provoking, interesting, and engaging to build a reputation for quality content on Twitter. Utilize the hashtag function and follow like-minded influencers in your field. Many times, they will follow you in return and could even retweet you someday, passing your message along to their larger audience.

Of course, take our advice with a grain of salt and don’t entirely rely on Twitter to promote yourself. Twitter is great for promoting your brand in a micro-setting, but don’t put all your eggs into a social media basket. Instead of relying on a platform of which you have little control, take your brand into your own hands with your own website. Squarespace allows you to customize your site in your name for the optimal digital experience. Give your brand the best first impression possible with a streamlined, aesthetically designed and award-winning Squarespace website.

What do you think of personal branding on Twitter? Share your ideas and advice and leave a comment below!

The Necessity of a Personal Branding Blog & Website

Your business, reputation, employment status, and personal brand are all influenced by your digital footprint. Every second 40,000 searches are processed by Google. 93% of all web visits begin with a search engine. And according to the Huffington Post, over 80% of employers screen applicants online before offering an interview.

The digital era has changed the way we communicate and the internet is now the means by which we mainly interact. Building your online presence is more essential than ever to maintain relevance and establish your brand. People are looking online, so give them something worth looking at!

Here, discover just how much personal branding can be amplified with the help of a blog or website.

Professional presentation

In a recent post on Personal Branding Blog, branding pros Mark Cenicola and Brennan White discussed the necessity of a blog or website when it comes to personal branding. A website, and more importantly a dot-com website in your own name, is the key to your personal brand, especially in coming years. While many branders depend on free sites for their blog and content needs, these sites are oftentimes associated with recreation. As Brennan White advises, “dot-com sites always appear more professional than identical sites on Tumblr or other subdomain sites.”

Think of it as an investment

Making use of these free platforms is good for your brand – they others connect with your brand on all levels. You should utilize these resources online and create a consistent brand across the board. Mark Cenicola points out the huge advantage of a personal website or blog in that it is entirely in your control when you own the domain. He adds, “when done professionally, [a website] shows you are serious about your brand. Invest in your brand by investing in your own personal website.”

When it comes to personal branding blogs and websites, we like Squarespace. This year, it was nominated for the Webby Awards for design, home page, mobility, and services. Squarespace is known for its great imagery and finished layout. And with its drag and drop design, it’s easy enough for anyone to build a website that works as hard for your brand as you do. When it only takes a visitor two-tenths of a second to decide whether or not they like your website, make sure you are providing them the best first impression possible.

Taking your brand online with a personal branding blog or website can greatly expand the reach of your audience.

Your online base camp

On SocialBro, Cassie Hayes recently wrote about the necessity of a blog or website for personal brands too. Think of the site as your “base camp” or “launch pad” for the digital realm. It can link to all your profiles on other free websites and social networks, but it should also contain the bulk of your content as well. Elaborate with content on your site, then use social media and other platforms to promote it and share it in other capacities. You should also dedicate a portion of your site to introducing yourself, your background, and accolades with recommendations or referrals. Use this space to expand on your experience to craft your narrative into part of your brand.

Create a posting schedule

Hayes also stressed a regular schedule for posting and updating your personal branding blog. The Huffington Post reported an overview on the optimal times to post on various social networks and your website for traffic and social shares and found many variations between platforms. Play around with it to see which times, such as afternoon versus evening, work best for you. Workdays and weekends can differ greatly in the traffic you can accumulate too. Once you find a good posting time, stick to it to build an audience and create a wealth of quality content.

Keep it concise

When it comes to creating content on your personal branding blog or website, make sure that it is both focused and engaging. Your content, like your brand, should be narrowed down to a small niche. Visitors to the site should know what to expect when it comes to content, so keep focused on your area of expertise. This will keep visitors returning for more content.

Ask for feedback

Hayes also brought up a good point in that you can only post non-engaging content for so long. Reach out to your audience to make sure you are meeting their needs and to sustain your content. Get to know them by asking for comments, feedback, and suggestions. Posting prompts and starting discussions is another good way to keep your visitors coming back to your site time and time again. Cater the content to the audience.

What tactics have you used on your personal branding blog or website to increase audience, improve content, and strengthen your brand? Let us know and leave a comment!

An Overview of Social Media and Your Personal Brand

If Rip Van Winkle had been a Boomer, a member of Generation X, or even a Millennial, and had fallen asleep in 2004, he would have awoken ten years later to find the way the world interacts entirely altered and forever changed.

Much like this classic American Gothic, the world has transformed drastically in the past few years. The way we communicate has been infiltrated by technology, increasing access to the internet, and most importantly by social media. Social media has changed the medium we turn to for communicating and has even changed the way we talk and the language of our communication. It's so widespread, there are one billion users for just Facebook and Twitter alone.

With social media taking center stage in networking, it’s a no-brainer to market your personal brand in the world of Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, and much more.

Trust ethics on social media

On Muckrack Daily, social media consultant Jason Mollica recently wrote about the importance of applying your personal brand to social media. As Mollica pointed out, trust is of the utmost importance when it comes to social media. WIthout trust, all your efforts to craft the perfect tweet or post are fruitless in reaching your audience. Establishing trust on your social media platforms will ensure that your brand will not only be seen, but it will be recognized and respected.

Precision posts

To establish trust and brand your social media platforms, Mollica suggests first taking inventory of where you’re at right now. Are you reaching your desired audiences? Are you posting as much as you’d like? And are these posts as engaging as they could be? 

Examine the quality of your posts too. As Forbes suggests, make sure they all carry the values of your brand. Brand-specific posts will mean more to your audience and establish your credibility more than an array of random posts. Clear out or adjust your privacy settings on old content that doesn’t fit the bill to brand your accounts.

Applying your personal brand to social media opens huge demographics and allows you to connect with your audience on a whole other level.

Know your audience

Another key to applying your personal brand to social media is knowing your audience. Who should you brand be connecting with? You can see what exactly people are looking for with Google Analytics, but you should also know the people behind the searches and cater your content to them.

Mollica suggests reaching out to your audience to get to know them. Simply thanking them for following you is a great way to start the conversation. Creating engaging content is also a good way to get a feel for your audience, and as Meme Burn pointed out, it can lead to a positive impact for your brand’s clients as well as testimonials and credibility for you.

While social media can be a great tool for personal branding, don’t let it be your main platform of operation. After all, you wouldn’t build on rented land, would you? A personal website puts the control of your online footprint in your hands and allows you to put your best foot forward for the digital world. Try Squarespace for the best in personal websites.

How have you applied your brand to social media? Tell us in the comments below.