Your business, reputation, employment status, and personal brand are all influenced by your digital footprint. Every second 40,000 searches are processed by Google. 93% of all web visits begin with a search engine. And according to the Huffington Post, over 80% of employers screen applicants online before offering an interview.
The digital era has changed the way we communicate and the internet is now the means by which we mainly interact. Building your online presence is more essential than ever to maintain relevance and establish your brand. People are looking online, so give them something worth looking at!
Here, discover just how much personal branding can be amplified with the help of a blog or website.
Professional presentation
In a recent post on Personal Branding Blog, branding pros Mark Cenicola and Brennan White discussed the necessity of a blog or website when it comes to personal branding. A website, and more importantly a dot-com website in your own name, is the key to your personal brand, especially in coming years. While many branders depend on free sites for their blog and content needs, these sites are oftentimes associated with recreation. As Brennan White advises, “dot-com sites always appear more professional than identical sites on Tumblr or other subdomain sites.”
Think of it as an investment
Making use of these free platforms is good for your brand – they others connect with your brand on all levels. You should utilize these resources online and create a consistent brand across the board. Mark Cenicola points out the huge advantage of a personal website or blog in that it is entirely in your control when you own the domain. He adds, “when done professionally, [a website] shows you are serious about your brand. Invest in your brand by investing in your own personal website.”
When it comes to personal branding blogs and websites, we like Squarespace. This year, it was nominated for the Webby Awards for design, home page, mobility, and services. Squarespace is known for its great imagery and finished layout. And with its drag and drop design, it’s easy enough for anyone to build a website that works as hard for your brand as you do. When it only takes a visitor two-tenths of a second to decide whether or not they like your website, make sure you are providing them the best first impression possible.
Taking your brand online with a personal branding blog or website can greatly expand the reach of your audience.
Your online base camp
On SocialBro, Cassie Hayes recently wrote about the necessity of a blog or website for personal brands too. Think of the site as your “base camp” or “launch pad” for the digital realm. It can link to all your profiles on other free websites and social networks, but it should also contain the bulk of your content as well. Elaborate with content on your site, then use social media and other platforms to promote it and share it in other capacities. You should also dedicate a portion of your site to introducing yourself, your background, and accolades with recommendations or referrals. Use this space to expand on your experience to craft your narrative into part of your brand.
Create a posting schedule
Hayes also stressed a regular schedule for posting and updating your personal branding blog. The Huffington Post reported an overview on the optimal times to post on various social networks and your website for traffic and social shares and found many variations between platforms. Play around with it to see which times, such as afternoon versus evening, work best for you. Workdays and weekends can differ greatly in the traffic you can accumulate too. Once you find a good posting time, stick to it to build an audience and create a wealth of quality content.
Keep it concise
When it comes to creating content on your personal branding blog or website, make sure that it is both focused and engaging. Your content, like your brand, should be narrowed down to a small niche. Visitors to the site should know what to expect when it comes to content, so keep focused on your area of expertise. This will keep visitors returning for more content.
Ask for feedback
Hayes also brought up a good point in that you can only post non-engaging content for so long. Reach out to your audience to make sure you are meeting their needs and to sustain your content. Get to know them by asking for comments, feedback, and suggestions. Posting prompts and starting discussions is another good way to keep your visitors coming back to your site time and time again. Cater the content to the audience.
What tactics have you used on your personal branding blog or website to increase audience, improve content, and strengthen your brand? Let us know and leave a comment!