Personal branding relies on you letting the world see your true self while standing out from the crowd. Here are 7 benefits of building your brand online.
Many times, we become self-reliant on the latest trends. It’s easy to forget who we are and what we stand for. Personal branding lets us deviate away from this, as it places us in the driver seat of our own lives.
There are many benefits to building your brand online, including greater exposure. However, it’s hard to decide if you want to bring such personal elements onto the Internet.
But, by doing so, you’re holding yourself accountable to your ideals, meaning you’re less likely to break them. Here’s why else it’s helpful to have a strong online presence for personal branding.
1. It Boosts Your Confidence
It’s no question that many online communities have a bad reputation for trolls and other bullies. However, the vast majority of your followers (and even strangers) want to see that you’re doing well.
They aren’t looking to put you down or diminish your ideas. Instead, many use platforms to spread positivity, which can be a huge confidence boost. You just have to be able to channel out the bad and focus on the good.
In general, a person garners self-assurance from developing a brand digitally. You gain a better sense of your qualities and values, which reflects positively on the web.
2. Establish Credibility
How good is your word if others don’t believe it? You need to establish credibility with your target audience so they can trust you.
One of the easiest ways to do this is documenting your endeavors online. State your short- and long-term goals, and explain how you’re working to achieve them. According to CEO of Blue Dog Video Tim Stockman, a company specializing in video production for the healthcare industry, a video can help establish credibility like no other digital medium. One of the best ways to do this, says Stockman, is to use customer testimonials to help let other knows how great your company is so you don’t have to say it yourself.
When your audience sees you’re following through on what you said, they’re more likely to trust you. If you make promises that never get fulfilled, you deem yourself untrustworthy.
We all know that actions speak louder than words. You have to be willing to prove you’re taking the right actions when necessary.
3. Find Others within Your Niche
Depending what your specialty is, you may not know a lot of people with similar goals and visions. Don’t fret – that’s okay. The Internet provides a variety of avenues for communicating to a specific audience.
By targeting certain groups over others, you’re finding who’s most likely to enjoy your content. This makes it easier to build a loyal audience who trusts and supports your ideas.
You can segment through sponsored advertisements on social media platforms. On Facebook specifically, you can join other niche-related groups. Also, research prominent associations related to your industry and join their online network.
4. Distinguish Yourself
As humans, it’s in our nature to notice what’s different. If we see groups of people passing by, we’re going to notice that person with a wonky hairstyle or funky apparel.
To have a personal brand, you must determine what makes you unique. Bringing your brand online can help you navigate through this discovery process.
For one, it allows you to engage in meaningful conversations and delve into research. Also, you can gain a lot back from putting out who you are and what you’re looking to do.
This sets the stage for others to share their own ideas, especially when they may benefit others.
5. Hold Yourself Accountable
As we mentioned earlier, your brand should hold you accountable to your ideals. Specifically, it needs to provide a direction of who you are and what you believe in.
We’re much more apt to break promises and goals when we know there are no repercussions. But if you have a large number of people who look to you, you’re less likely to go back on your word.
Going online also challenges you to continue growing and self-reflecting. Your brand should never be static, so you need the inspiration to stay motivated.
6. Appear More Professional
You want people to recognize your brand as one with high integrity. Having an online presence helps you establish this authority.
It indicates that you’re serious about your beliefs, values, and concerns. Also, it shows you’re confident to speak about these ideals on such a large-scale network.
Most people automatically discern themselves from brands without an online identity. It’s not that they’re any less valuable or reliable. It’s that users can’t engage with them in the ways they want to.
Our future is, without a doubt, technology. We must adapt to these always-emerging principles to remain competitive within our audiences.
There are ways to enhance your presence so you appear more professional.
Let’s say your goal is to communicate the importance of mental health research. You could build a mental health logo or website to further segment yourself.
7. Leave Your Footprint
If a goal of your brand is to leave a lasting impact, you need to bring your efforts online. The digital landscape is open for users to build legacies and leave impressions.
You don’t have that kind of opportunity (in such a simple, streamlined manner) outside of the web. Social platforms, forums, and chat boards allow us to interact and engage with others.
Whenever you’re using these channels, you’re leaving a digital footprint. Once it’s out there, there’s often no going back. Send out the right message and leave the right impression for those who read your posts.
What’s Your Brand Going to Be?
Having a personal brand can be your source of inspiration. It will help you decide what’s right and wrong for you in life.
“Finding yourself” doesn’t mean relying on mainstream culture and family and friends. It means reflecting inward to learn what motivates and inspires you to be a better person.
If you want to learn more about how to take charge of your own life, you’re in the right place. Check out some of our other personal wellbeing articles here! Also, contact us if you have any questions!