Your personal brand is not just about what you do, but how you do it. Your values and principles should shine through in everything you do.” – Richard Branson, Founder- Virgin Group

Imagine a career where you can let your unique skills, knowledge, and values shine through in every interaction you have within your industry. A career where you can showcase your expertise, establish yourself as a thought leader, and attract opportunities without relying solely on well-crafted resumes, cover letters, and interview skills. All of this is possible through personal branding — a powerful way to move towards professional success in the digital age.

Personal branding effectively communicates your unique skills, knowledge, and experiences to people in the same industry or job community. It helps define who you are, showcase your skills and strengths, create lasting impressions in networking opportunities, shape a positive reputation, and make recruiters notice you.

Recruiters today increasingly rely on social media, such as LinkedIn and Twitter, to assess candidates’ suitability for a role. Nearly 50-60% of their decision-making comes from the information they find through these platforms, which provide valuable insights into applicants’ professional backgrounds, skill sets, and achievements.

• Set yourself apart: Nowadays, everyone has various degrees and achievements to their name. When recruiters look for potential candidates, they look beyond what is listed on a resume or degree.They want to know how you can make a difference with the knowledge and expertise that you have at your disposal. That’s where personal branding comes in. It gives recruiters an insight into who you are as a person and what makes you stand out from the crowd. For instance, a software engineer can showcase their personal coding projects to contribute to the healthcare sector on LinkedIn.
• Gain better and more opportunities: We live in a highly competitive environment where every candidate strives to be the best for job opportunities and growth.Crafting a personal brand can give you an edge over others, allowing you to stand out when recruiters need someone with your specific skill set or insight. Moreover, having a powerful brand image could open new horizons – when people notice your expertise, they’re more likely to offer you job opportunities. Showcasing recognition and rewards in your field adds credibility to your professional profile and opens up more opportunities.
• Build trust: Creating a personal brand involves developing a consistent, well-defined identity. It involves creating a unique message, look, and online presence to ensure people trust you. When recruiters and other professionals feel connected to who you are as an individual, they will be more likely to engage with you because they recognize your authority in your area.

It is essential to stand out by showcasing your unique individuality and connecting with individuals whose values align with yours.

• Define your niche: Defining your niche is crucial in creating a personal brand. It involves finding the one area or skill that sets you apart from the crowd and honing it to provide value to your target audience. To do this, you need to know what your strengths are and who your target audience is, and ensure that whatever you create resonates with them.
• Network and collaborate: Actively network with professionals in your industry or niche on LinkedIn and Twitter. Make the most of your connections in your field by attending conferences, joining professional organizations and career circles, and engaging with online communities. You can also collaborate on projects or contribute to other authoritative websites to broaden your exposure, and list down your experience online.
• Build a portfolio: A good portfolio is essential for creating your personal brand, especially in creative or professional fields requiring tangible evidence of your skills. An attractive and well-crafted portfolio can go a long way to highlighting your credentials and drawing attention to yourself. Build a portfolio and share it amongst your network to increase the chances of being noticed.
• SEO-friendly Social Media Profile: Create an SEO-friendly social media profile with a username that reflects your brand or keywords, a compelling bio with relevant keywords, and hashtags to boost visibility. Incorporate targeted keywords into posts and descriptions organically, then publish high-quality content to encourage engagement from readers.
• Thought leadership content: Share your expertise and insights by creating and sharing valuable industry-specific content. Write engaging blogs and articles, and post them on LinkedIn and other social media platforms. Your content will communicate your expertise and knowledge of the specific industry and attract recruiters.
• Work on your social media presence: Stay relevant on social media by consistently producing content that resonates with your target audience. Adhere to your principles and ideas for maximum impact, and remain active on social media by regularly reading, creating, and responding to posts. Increase your presence through these activities.

Your personal brand is what makes you memorable, relevant, and influential. It’s how you leave your mark in the minds of others.” — William Arruda, Personal Branding Guru.

Creating a strong bond with your target audience is essential, and one powerful way to build trust is by allowing them to connect with you on a personal level. Even though it’s crucial to maintain an air of professionalism, don’t be afraid to show off your human side from time to time.

Building a personal brand might sound overwhelming at first, but it’s all about taking small steps– something as small as updating your LinkedIn profile, and consistently making small efforts to build your professional presence online!

Pankaj Bansal is the Co-founder of PeopleStrong, Taggd and Caret Capital (a Fund investing in jobs and work tech). He is a non-executive director at Karmayogi Bharat (Capacity building or Civil Servants) and many other startups. Follow him on Twitter at @pankajbansalPB