A personal brand for myself, particularly online, was not something I thought I would need to eventually build and create. Growing up in Generation Y, I am marked by the influence of technology. Using social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn just came naturally, but only recently am I realizing the power that lies in having very strong online presence. Your personal brand is not only in how you define yourself, but how you are perceived by others.
Applying the 4 Ps of marketing to creating an image and a point of differentiation for yourself online could make all the difference in job applications down the line. When looking at yourself as the product that you are trying to sell through your values, mission, knowledge, skills and abilities, like always, consistency and reliability are key. However, your online brand has the ability to sell them on the overall experience you are able to create.
A recent report stated that 64% of HR managers believe it is relevant to search your online profiles, and 41% have rejected people as a direct result. That’s a lot! The first six hits when you type my name into Google are all links to my various social media networking channels – have you Googled your name? As for my generation, their profiles probably need a lot of “tidying up” – to put it politely.
Before truly looking at the power of personal marketing in depth, it always came across as a way to “toot your own horn.” Now I am able to realize the major positive impact that it could have on your personal ROI for the rest of your life. President Obama’s digital director Teddy Goff certainly recognized and utilized the extreme power of creating a strong, trustworthy, personal brand. So what’s a couple hours here and there to blog today, if it will positively impact you tomorrow?