Have you ever tried Googling yourself? It’s kind of exciting, right, to see what the internet says about you? What if it doesn’t say anything though? Or worse, what if all the info about you on the World Wide Web makes you look boring?

Now imagine if someone else is Googling you. It could be a potential client or an investor who is interested in your business or services. One wrong first impression and these hopes will turn into dust right before your eyes.

Usually, when you Google your name, or anyone else’s name, the top results will be your social media pages, any website you’ve written for (if you, too, are a writer), and anything else you’ve done on the internet that has your name on it.

Like it or not, our lives are now easy to reach, so make sure that people only see what you want them to see when they research you on the internet.

This means that you’ll have to carefully work on your brand, especially if you’re an entrepreneur with a new, unknown business that needs traction. We live in a world dominated by social media platforms, quick news, and online presence, so leveraging your online profile is always an opportunity, and you have to take it. This will help you create a perfect first impression, and, more importantly, make your personal brand finer.

But before learning how you can do this, let’s talk more about what a personal brand is.

What Is A Personal Brand?

Just like a company would have a logo, a slogan, and a brand, every entrepreneur should have their own personal brand logo to build their persona.

So, to explain it in easy words, your personal brand is your reputation. Personal branding is establishing your values, principles, and views of life, and promoting them. Your personal brand is basically the combination of all the skills and talents you’ve acquired in your lifetime. It’s what makes you you. And good, efficient personal branding will make it easier for you to stand out from the crowd.

Why Does It Matter?

A lot of people think that personal branding isn’t as important as having the skills needed for business, but they’d be wrong. The first thing people see about your startup or company is you, so make sure the image you give is perfect.

And yes, even though the process of personal branding is time-consuming and could be expensive, in the long run, it’s one of the best investments you could ever make for yourself and your business.

Personal branding matter because regardless of what you do, people will look you up online. If you meet with a new client, a new investor, or a potential new partner, they will search for information about you to have an idea of who they are dealing with. You know it’s true, because you would do the same. And what they find will have crucial consequences on your professional future.

So, how do you design a good personal brand? Keep on reading to find out!

Focus On What You Want People To See

When people research you, they should find what you want them to find. So, focus on that! Way too many entrepreneurs get lost in trying to cover every aspect and please everyone, but it doesn’t work. Instead, choose to be honest about yourself and your values, and present it as well as you can through several serious platforms (such as LinkedIn, but we’ll get to that later on).

So, what you need to do is decide what your key message is. And by key message, we mean, what you stand for. When you do it, stick to it and don’t waver, because wavering will just make you look unprofessional and unreliable.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Being Genuine

Having an original brand is important, but having an honest one is crucial. No one will want to do business with someone they feel is dishonest, so make sure to always be genuine. Don’t underestimate your audience, because they are not as gullible as most people think, and they will be able to see right through your dishonesty. So keep it real!

Use LinkedIn For A Strong Online Presence

If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, then you really need more help than we thought. So create one, ASAP! LinkedIn is the single best network for professionals, and putting your name out there is one of the first things you should do.

Choose a good, professional photo (no selfies), update your LinkedIn CV (everything from your education to your latest job or project should be on there), and get recommendations.

Get busy on that profile, and post good content. Write articles about your industry or share relevant ones that you find online. All in all, be present on LinkedIn and it will pay out!

Conclusion

Personal branding is all about being honest and presenting yourself the best you can to your clients and investors. So, follow our advice, and you’ll be all set!

And if you really want to make sure you’re everywhere, think about making a personal website or portfolio, getting featured on famous digital platforms, and using social media such as Twitter.