Your personal brand separates you from the rest.  You want to be in control of the impressions that employers have of you.  Why leave your reputation to chance? When creating your personal brand strategy, you need to determine who you are versus how you want to be perceived, or more who you want to become.

This is the exact strategy I used to position myself as a “Career Expert” over the past few years.  What do you want to be?  Why not start becoming what you want to be today?

Here are some questions to ask yourself to develop your personal brand:

1. Who are you? What are your goals? What makes you unique? What are your passions?

2. How are you currently perceived? How are you perceived in your personal and professional relationships? What do your online profiles say about you? What does Google say about you?

3. What do you want to achieve? What is your industry sector? What is your market and target audience for your brand? What is the communication style you want to project?  What is your niche?

4. Create your brand.  Create your new professional photos for your new personal brand. How can you show your knowledge and story online? What name and slogan do you want to be known as?  How will you stand out? What is your strategy and long term goal?

5. Create your network. Are you going to be online? Are you going to be at networking events?  Where does your personal brand need to communicate?  Who can you interact with online?

6. Create your content: Create original content that expresses your personal brand online and on social media. Ex. LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs, Facebook, Personal website, online resume, etc. Create a quick, simple, and memorable statement describing who you are and what you have to offer.  Pick 2-3 social platforms. Each sphere adds to your brand and personal reputation.  Should you buy your name as your domain?

7. Listen. What news stories does your personal brand need to know and share? How can you become an expert in your field?  How can you show that you are an expert?

8. Create Systems. How can you consistently promote and monitor your personal brand?

What do you want your personal brand to say about you?