Like a corporate brand that represents a particular business entity, a personal brand is a representation of “you” on an individual level. But not everyone can successfully pull this off. If you’ve been struggling to build your personal brand, social media is where you should begin.

Personal branding requires extra effort to stand out from the crowd. It requires developing a positioning strategy and understanding how to use social media to do so can actually be a truly effective tool.

Building your brand on social media is becoming more and more important due to the multitude of benefits that it brings to one’s business and professional goals.

So why social media?

You cannot afford to ignore the power of social media; while its primary use was on socialization, this has evolved and it has a huge influence in the business world.

Literally, there are billions of users online. In 2019, it is estimated that there are approximately 2.77 billion social media users around the globe, up from 2.46 billion in 2017.

The most common platforms are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Linkedin, and Twitter. The popularity of these platforms means the widest audience for your brand and the business you represent.

So here are some smart ways to use social media to build an effective personal brand:

1. Make it special (digitally)

Even if you think you are innovative, there are still other companies offering products or services that can be perceived as substitutes and yours hence YOUR competition.

It is important therefore to put out regular content on various social platforms so you become visible to your target audience.

This means that you will have to use social media to help you distinguish yourself from the rest in the industry.

Customers need to know why they should choose you and if there is anything special they get from your product.

Make sure your special skills are highlighted on your social media profile. Find something unique about you, your products and your company and make those things the focal point on your profile.

Additionally, include areas of interest to increase your chances of featuring on the search results. Obviously, your traits should match the interests and preferences of your target audience.

2. Consistency

Social media presence has enormous benefits to your business and your brand; however, you need to interact with your audience regularly.

When establishing a personal brand, you have to post content frequently, but do not go overboard!

For your business, you can schedule specific days of the week to post on your preferred social media platforms.

Also, make sure you respond to all reactions and comments from your followers, as soon as possible. Schedule time to do this as well

Consumers should find your communication and response time reliable and efficient. However, consistency is not only limited to posts and online interactions, but also the color schemes and style of each of your profiles should be consistent. It is easy to lose potential customers if you keep changing the look and feel.

3. Using Multiple Channels

Do not shy away with retaining a sense of ubiquity. If you are going to reach a target audience, and retain relevance, you always need to be in front of their faces.

Be upfront and courageous to communicate with your existing and prospective customers frequently in platforms such as YouTube or a personal blog.

This will mean you will be familiar across multiple spectrums. Maximizing your personal branding requires spreading your brand on various platforms to become familiar. You can add to your accounts and social media hubs as much information as possible to remain available whenever needed. When your audience associates you with reliability, you will be set to acquire loyal customers.

4. Sharing of Quality Content

Having a massive following will not be useful if you do not have what it takes to keep them interested.

If you are going to retain a massive following, there is no other option than to produce quality content. The practical thing is it will not matter whether you are the snazziest on social media. Staying relevant means availability of relevant content for the users. If you can achieve this on a constant level, you can be confident in driving the business participation levels. When more readers are interested in your content, they will re-share the content with their close friends and family. You know that this is the most effective form of marketing because it is convincing. Sharing content with loved ones means passing on trusted information hence consistent growth of your brand and business in relevant circles.

You should also consider sharing reputable information from other sources as well. This will show your honesty and concern for truth and what is helpful to the community.

My Final Thoughts

If you wish to build a strong personal brand, you need to establish yourself as a leader. To do so, you will need to make an impression in your social circles and communities. You will also need to participate in leading communication channels like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Snapchat, etc.

Social media is the best platform to build your personal brand. It is free, vast, and has immense potential to connect you to a global audience. Use the tips discussed in the post to start leveraging social media in your personal branding efforts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The Stammering Communicator

Debbie-Ann Jollie is a Marketing Strategist with more than 10 years of experience creating marketing strategies and promotional campaigns for a diverse group of corporate clients and first-time entrepreneurs. In her not so spare time she likes writing blogs for her boutique while sipping on Jack Daniel’s honey (’cause vodka gives her a headache) and taking naps on Sundays.