Back to Basics

The idea of personal branding is not new but the ways in which we brand ourselves are new and continually evolving. Having the ability to constantly communicate with an audience is a huge advantage, but also a responsibility. It is important to be mindful of what you are putting out there because it is going to be associated with your brand, and therefore, you.

Many of us have been working on perfecting both our internal and external brands since adolescence. As individuals, most of us are deeply concerned with how we are perceived publicly. As children, we want to build friendships and therefore, we adapt messages that we convey about our likes and dislikes as well as our comforts and fears to those of our peers. As we get older, we continue this idea and portray a specific image of ourselves through  words and actions that influence how others perceive us. We are labeled and/or categorized based on those perceptions. Think back to the labeling categories that were attached to most high school social groups. 

So, when students enter college and begin thinking about ways to market themselves to the world, they should start with the basic principles of personal branding. The core concepts are the same. Students are trying to construct a very specific image of themselves. Only this time instead of using words and actions to build friendships they are using them to establish a specific image for a potential employer or business associate. 

Students need to quickly grasp this concept and begin immediately constructing their personal brand. In other words, Facebook posts, blog responses, Twitter posts, etc. all work in conjunction to project a very specific image. Maintaining complete control over that image through a thoughtful and academically constructed social media presence is the first step in building a strong and reputable personal brand. People are rejected jobs because of their Facebook photos all the time, and the same is said about people who are being irresponsible with what they put their name on. Branding is a reflection of how you want to be seen. And the reality is, you will be  judged on these things in the business world. Social media can be a huge asset, but if taken advantage of, or misused, it can be very damaging.  It is imperative for students to learn the difference early on.

When you are blogging, tweeting, posting or building your presence online, say something that adds value to those who are reading it. Ultimately you want people to walk away with something, and come back hoping to get more.