Ever put your name into a google search? Chances are, you have at least once or twice. What came up? What articles, what profiles, what images? All of this is part of your personal brand and its your job to manage it. There’s no doubt with more and more information available at our fingertips, anyone can find anything on anyone at anytime. More employers do an adverse data search on prospective employees today than ever before and if you’re vying for that new job what is that employer going to see when they type in your name?
Now, one could argue that the advancement of social media: blogging, twitter, facebook, myspace, linkdin put us at risk by opening up our private social lives to our professional circles. Ever think your boss would see that picture of you at that party saturday night? But with all of these potential pitfalls there comes dramatically more opportunities for promoting yourself. Here’s a few tips:
Everyone, and I really mean everyone should buy their own domain name, today. Johnsmith.com is going to be purchased at some time and who knows what that person will put out on that site. Someone will use it, it may as well be you, who can control it. Don’t know how to build a website? You don’t have to, start a blog on wordpress or tumbler and use your new domain. Use your blog to talk about experiences you have had in your job, what you have learned, whatever drives your passion. Use it as a chance to showcase yourself.
Your personal brand doesn’t start and stop with what someone can find in google on your name. Your brand extends to what people think about when they hear your name. What do people think when they hear your name? What do you want them to think? Keeping this on the forefront of your mind in the way you interact with people will be critical to building your brand. The best advice I ever heard was when Gary Vaynerchuk said, “passion beats the hell out of talent every day of the week.” Focus on passion, enthusiasm, and energy and that will take you a long, long way.
Purchase today!
