Who Gives A Tweet? 8 Steps to Building Your Online Personal Brand with Social Media You, my friend, are a brand. We’re all brands, whether we aim to be or not. Personal branding, then, is the process of managing and optimizing the way you are presented to others. And social media is one of the keys (if not the biggest key) to managing your personal brand online. So where do you start? Here are 8 simple steps to guide you:

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Who"Gives"A"Tweet?
8"Steps"to"Building"Your"Online"Personal"Brand"with"Social"Media"
Step%5:%Build%a%consistent%persona%
Do"all"your"social"media"profiles"look"consistent?"Keep"
the"same"username,"profile"picture,"imagery,"and"look"
across"all"your"social"profiles."Keeping"a"consistent"profile"
helps"others"find"you"easily,"and"cements"who"you"are"in"
their"minds."Reserve"your"name"on"all"social"channels"
and"use"the"same"photo"on"all"of"them."Your"social"media"
profile"picture"or"avatar"is"your"visual"signature."Choosing"
the"right"image"is"vital."Make"sure"your"picture"reflects"
the"brand"values"that"you"want"to"convey.
Step%1:%Find%out%what%your%online%brand% is%today
Open"an"incognito"browser"window"so"that"your"Google"
search"is"free"from"any"personal"customizations"or"saved"
search"elements."Search"for"your"name"and"variations"of"
it"e.g."first"and"last,"nickname,"middle"name,"misspellings"
of"your"name"etc."If"your"name"is"common,"add"other"
elements"that"might"help"define"you"like"your"
occupation,"your"employer,"your"school,"etc.
You’ll"notice"that"the"top"results"are"social"networks—
Twitter,"LinkedIn,"YouTube,"Google+"etc
Step%2:%Define%your%brand
Choose"1-3"areas"of"expertise."What"sets"you"apart"from"
others?"Before"you"can"establish"or"develop"your"expertise,"
you"have"to"decide"what"you"want"to"be"known"for."Consider:
- - What"is"one"thing"everyone"says"you"rock"at?
- - What"are"your"passions"and"interests?
• - What"do"you"read"about"most"often"online?
• - What"will"you"still"be"interested"in"a"year"from"now?
Step%6:%Post%every%day%
Pick"one"or"two"social"networks"and"make"those"your"
most"valued"social"profiles."Make"sure"the"people"you"are"
targeting"are"on"these"social"networks."Start"posting"
everyday."You"can"focus"on"fitting"in"or"post"with"your"own"
spin."Doesn’t"matter."Just"post."This"will"help"you"get"more"
followers,"increase"your"engagement,"click"rate,"shares,"
credibility,"authority"and"influence."
Step%3:%Research%the%keywords%you%want%to%use
Research"conversations"happening"around"your"topic"of"
interest"or"potential"area"of"expertise."A"Google"search"
is"a"great"way"to"figure"out"what"related"topics"people"are"
talking"about"in"your"area"of"expertise"(and"what’s"already"
ranking"high"on"the"first"page)."You"can"also"use"tools"like"
RiteTag’s hashtag"search"to"see"how"the"keywords"you"
choose"(and"related"hashtags)"rank"on"social"media."
Step%7:%Take%time%to%connect%
Surround"yourself"with"top-notch"people."Using"tools"like"
JustUnfollow,"you"can"see"the"connections"of"anyone"on"
Twitter"— and"follow"these"connections"with"just"a"few"
clicks."Join"a"group,"chat,"forum,"or"community"to"reach"
out"to"others."You"can"also"follow"a"few"prominent"blogs"in"
your"chosen"area"of"expertise"and"comment"frequently.""
Monitor"mentions"of"your"name,"and"reply"quickly
Step%4:%Come%up%with%a%catchy%blurb% about%you%
Create"a"unique"headline"or"bio."You’ll"need"a"power"
statement"headline"that"conveys"the"value"you"deliver."
Include"some"of"the"keywords"you"found"in"your"research"
to"help"you"get"found"as"people"search."Example:"
Engineering'Executive' Six'Sigma'Black'Belt'
English/French'Fluent' Strategic'Leader' Read'my'Profile!'
Step%8:%Keep%growing
A"powerful"personal"brand"on"social"media"will"help"you"
gain"greater"credibility,"recognition,"prestige,"and"higher"
perceived"value."In"order"to"wield"more"influence"and"find"
more"rewarding"opportunities"you"need"to"keep"growing"-
stay"on"the"cutting"edge"of"your"thought-leadership"and"
connect"with"more"people."With"social"media,"you"have"
more"power"at"your"fingertips."
You,%my%friend,%are%a%brand.
We’re%all%brands,%whether%we%aim%to%be%or%not.%Personal%branding,%then,%is%the%process%of%managing%and%optimizing%the%
way%you%are%presented%to%others.%And%social%media%is%one%of%the%keys%(if%not%the%biggest%key)%to%managing%your%personal%
brand%online.%So%where%do%you%start?%Here%are%8%simple%steps%to%guide%you: