SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON PERSONAL BRANDINGW H Y Y O U R D I G I T A L F O O T P R I N T M A T T E R S

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WHAT IS PERSONAL BRANDING?“Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others. As a brand, we can leverage the same strategies that make these celebrities or corporate brands appeal to others. We can build brand equity just like them” (Schawbel, 2009).

SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON PERSONAL BRANDING

• It seems that new social media outlets are created everyday and everyone joins to see if the hype is real

• Soon, people forget the photos and status updates they’ve posted to their public accounts ; that information is now floating on the Web for everyone to see.

• Un-tagging photos or deleting inappropriate status updates doesn’t ensure that friends, family or future employers haven’t seen it

• When using social media, the difficult part can be the balance between posting professional and personal content

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WHAT’S ON YOUR FACEBOOK?• What kind of photos do you post to

your Facebook account? What kind of photos are you tagged in? Are the photos public to anyone on the Web? What would a potential employer think of your photos?

A POSITIVE, PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL FOOTPRINT• Google allows anyone to discover a digital

footprint of social media content posted over time

• Most of the time, a personal brand is how people perceive an individual before they have even met them

• Sometimes information posted on social media does not benefit a personal brand

• In today’s society, future employers search online media and social networks to find information on job candidates

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A POSITIVE, PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL FOOTPRINT• Barnett (2010) suggests 5 easy steps to maintain a positive personal brand:

1. Edit your image2. Consider your purpose3. Enhance your online presence4. Contribute to the conversation5. Brand yourself

• Anything set to the public privacy feature on social media is visible by everyone on the Web; once it is online, it is out there forever.

• Joining groups on LinkedIn that interest you or relate to a potential career field is one way to build an online presence and meet people who share the same passion

WHAT DOES GOOGLE SAY ABOUT YOU?• Have you ever Googled yourself? What

information comes up? Is it positive or are you embarrassed about what you see? How can you change your digital footprint?

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EVALUATING SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT• Ask yourself, "Is this acceptable for all my friends and followers to

see?” before posting content to any social network. If yes, post the content. If no, the content could be potentially harmful to your brand.

• Make sure privacy settings are correct before posting content. If photos and statuses are set to public, it is visible by anyone on the Web.

• The SimpleWash app works on both Facebook and Twitter and detects terms or phrases that are seen as inappropriate. It then lets the account user edit the post or delete it.

• A website called BrandYourself gives users the option of controlling what people find when their name is searched online

SHOWCASING YOUR BRAND• An online portfolio is an easy way to put

all your work samples in an online setting for potential employers to view

• Weebly, WordPress and Wix offer students, young professionals and even experienced communicators a free way to showcase their personal brand

• It’s easy to incorporate links into your social networks and add touches of your personality so employers can learn more about you

• Tell people about your portfolio. Tweet or post a link to it; include it on your resume and let people know when you’ve updated content.

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SHOWCASING YOUR BRAND• Schawbel (2009) suggests that as a personal brand grows, consistent

updating of social networks is necessary

• This means updating your LinkedIn profile with a current resume, job titles, and contact information

• Maintaining updated social networks gives employers and contacts an accurate depiction of skills, jobs, and hobbies

• Listen to what people are saying about your brand online

“By listening to your industry, you’re able to react and better position yourself, as the economy changes and your niche isn’t as relevant anymore” (Schawbel, 2009).

IS YOUR BRAND SUCCESSFUL?• Google alerts allow you to keep track of what is

being said about your personal brand by choosing key words for Google to monitor. When Google sees these chosen terms being used anywhere online, it sends a report showing the different Web addresses where these terms were used.

• This allows you to evaluate your brand’s success and see if people are talking about you online

• Are people reaching out to you? Asking for interviews? Talking to you about your interests? If you can answer yes to these questions, you’re successful at maintaining and promoting your personal brand.

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WRAP-UP• Evaluate your content. Make sure it’s appropriate for everyone to

see.

• Post updated content on your social media networks and online portfolio so connections and employers know your current activities

• See what is being said about your personal brand online so you can respond accordingly

• Make sure your digital footprint and personal brand reflects the best possible you

MAKE YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT POSITIVE.

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