The Brief

In this report, my aim is to expand my client list to include larger clients from more diverse industries. I believe that developing online personal brand will allow you to achieve this. This report will based on the research on personal branding and use social media to develop a personal brand online. This report will showcase the understanding of personal branding including conducting secondary research to understand personal branding in more detail.

The Importance of Personal Branding

With industry ever expanding, so does the market and competition. Personal branding has become a crucial strategy for professionals looking to differentiate themselves in today’s competitive market (Jones, 2024).

A strong personal brand can help establish credibility, attract new opportunities, and build a network of valuable connections. According to (Lindstrom, 2010), consumers are more likely to choose the brand name, such as “Pepsi” or “Coca-Cola,” rather than simply selecting cola.

With the rise of digital platforms, personal branding has become more accessible and impactful. (Motion Venture, 2020) stated that digital marketing enables professionals to present a consistent and authentic image across various channels, enhancing their visibility and reputation.

How to use Social Media for Personal Branding

Social media marketing has been evolving for nearly 30 years, starting with platforms like Six Degrees, which launched in 1996, and continuing to the latest trends with platforms such as TikTok (Petkovska, 2024)
. Social media remains a powerful tool for boosting business visibility. To make the most of social media and drive business growth, consider these key steps:

1. Define your brand voice: Before diving into social media, clarify your brand’s core message. When defining your ideas, choose a specific niche instead of targeting everyone (Godin, 2009). Define specifically who are your target audience and what are the right keywords to reach out to them.
   
2. Choose the Right Platforms: Select social media platforms that align with your professional goals and target audience. LinkedIn is ideal for networking and showcasing professional achievements, while Twitter and Instagram can be useful for sharing insights and engaging with a broader audience (Nada, 2022).
   
3. Create Content that stimulates emotions: In the current trend, creating sufficient content may not be to enough to leave an impact on the consumer. According to (Lindstrom, 2010) create a brand that simulate touch, smell, taste, sigh and sound. This indicates that crafting content that elicits emotional responses from consumers results in a more impactful and effective marketing strategy. Rather than continually promoting your product or service, consider posting a photo of a dog, a meme, or something humorous that your audience can relate to.
   
4. Find people that matters to your brand: While interacting with your followers by responding to comments, participating in discussions, and sharing relevant content from others is important, finding social media influencers is key to leverage your brand quickly. In current trends, many small to large businesses contacts influencers from social media to promote their brand in exchange to keep their products or a similar compensation (Mccorquodale, 2021).
   
5. Brand Consistency: Ensure that your personal brand is consistently represented across all platforms. This includes using the same profile picture, bio, and messaging. Consistency helps reinforce your brand identity and makes it easier for people to recognize and remember you.

3 great examples of using social media for personal branding

Summary

In summary, personal branding is essential for differentiating yourself in the professional world. By using social media strategically—defining your brand, choosing the right platforms, creating valuable content, engaging with your audience, and maintaining consistency—you can effectively build and enhance your personal brand. Examples from influential figures demonstrate the potential of social media to amplify your professional presence and impact.

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Reference

Godin, S., 2009. Purple cow: transform your business by being remarkable.. New York: Penguin Business.

Haely, J., 2024. Meltwater: 2024 Social Media Statistics for Australia. [Online]
Available at: https://www.meltwater.com/en/blog/social-media-statistics-australia
[Accessed 30 August 2024].

Jones, K., 2024. Council Post: The Importance Of Branding In Business.. [Online]
Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gamuda-berhad/2024/06/20/reaping-rewards-from-continuous-innovation/?

Lindstrom, M., 2010. build powerful brands through touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. London: Kogan Page.

Mccorquodale, S., 2021. Influence: How social media influencers are shaping our digital future. UK: Bloomsbury Business.

Motion Venture, 2020. The History and Evolution of Digital Marketing.. [Online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NRWGQT7aLo
[Accessed 30 August 2024].

Nada, L. &., 2022. GoDaddy: How to Choose the Best Social Media Platform for Your Business. [Online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJL6p6SX5qs
[Accessed 30 August 2024].

Petkovska, M., 2024. GaggleAMP: The evolution of social media marketing. [Online]
Available at: https://blog.gaggleamp.com/the-evolution-of-social-media-marketing
[Accessed 30 August 2024].

Vaynerchuk, G., 2009. Crush It! Why Now Is the Time to Cash In On Your Passion. s.l.:Harper Collins.