Branding is typically synonymous with businesses, but it shouldn’t be according to Forbes contributor Caroline Castrillon. You may be familiar with search engine optimization (SEO) and how that relates to a small business. When you search Apple on Google, what shows up? Before even the definition of the word apple comes up, the very first post is for Apple, Inc.’s website. If someone searched your name, what would appear? If someone searched for professionals within your industry, would you appear?

What Is A Personal Brand
Think of your personal brand as the unique attributes you possess that separate you from the crowd. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is famously quoted as saying, “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” If you were applying for a job and were asked, “What makes you different?” Your brand should showcase that!

Okay, But Why Do I Need One
According to a 2018 survey conducted by CareerBuilder, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates and a whopping 43% of employers regularly check the social media of current employees. By being active online, you have the ability to attract a wider range of customers, create and develop relationships, and showcase your strengths to a potentially global audience. As an employee that makes you an asset and if you are an entrepreneur you are adding value to your business.

Still Not Convinced
If you are not convinced that curating a personal brand here are some examples of some famous personal brands:

Oprah Winfrey – Billionaire television mogul that is best known for inspiring people to be their best self
Richard Branson – Eccentric billionaire and founder of Virgin America, Virgin Records, etc.
Elon Musk – Billionaire founder of Telsa and SpeceX
Bill Gates – Billionaire founder of Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (largest charity in history)

What you think of these leaders and what you see about them in the media is carefully curated to align with each of their personal brands. If you care at all what people think about you it is time to start working on yours. Start by creating a professional online portfolio on website like LinkedIn.