How to start building—or bolstering—your personal brand

Your brand is how people perceive you. If you’re managing it correctly, more opportunities will open for you and your business. If you manage a team, encourage them to nurture their brand as it will reflect well upon the company.

Building up a reputation isn’t something that will happen overnight, it’s a long-term strategy that requires work and perseverance. But with the tools now available, you have more opportunities to manage and shape your reputation.

Here are the basics to building your personal brand:

Define who you are

The first thing you should look out for is how people perceive you. If you’re looking to become a source, or known for a particular level of expertise, you will need to build your public image.

Look at your abilities and experiences. What do you offer? What separates you from others in your field? If you had to evaluate yourself, what words would you use to describe yourself? How would other people describe you? If you’re unsure about the latter, ask some trusted colleagues or friends to give their descriptions.

If their answer reflects the direction in which you want to go, you’re on the right track. If not, you will need to explore why and identify the steps necessary to change it.

Google yourself