Why It's Important to Build Your Brand

If you're my age, you may remember getting lectured in high school about tracking what you post on Facebook and other social media platforms while you're applying to college. You don't want any recruiters or admissions staff members to see you holding a red solo cup or out partying. Something similar applies as you get older, too.

Creating a personal brand for yourself is an important aspect of today's professional lives. It answers questions about your work and who you are. It can be based on what you post on social media, what you publish, and what impression of you you want the world to see, among other things.

You don't have to be a social media influencer to focus on your personal brand. You put it out there with everything you do both professionally and non-professionally. Your brand answers questions about:

• who you are
• where you can be found
• your expertise
• your focus/specialty
• what can be expected from you
• how professional you are
• how you want to be perceived
• what you stand for

Of course, there are other aspects of your personal brand, but these are among the most important. You'll want to set yourself apart from others in your field, and developing a unique personal brand is one of the best ways you can do that. 

If you're looking for ways to build your brand, consider making business cards, sharing on LinkedIn, connecting with like-minded people, etc. 

In an age where people can get to know you through their phone screens, showing off your greatest traits is both easy and hard. Your personal brand is something you can control and use to do this. 

xoxo,

Rachel