If Rip Van Winkle had been a Boomer, a member of Generation X, or even a Millennial, and had fallen asleep in 2004, he would have awoken ten years later to find the way the world interacts entirely altered and forever changed.

Much like this classic American Gothic, the world has transformed drastically in the past few years. The way we communicate has been infiltrated by technology, increasing access to the internet, and most importantly by social media. Social media has changed the medium we turn to for communicating and has even changed the way we talk and the language of our communication. It's so widespread, there are one billion users for just Facebook and Twitter alone.

With social media taking center stage in networking, it’s a no-brainer to market your personal brand in the world of Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, and much more.

Trust ethics on social media

On Muckrack Daily, social media consultant Jason Mollica recently wrote about the importance of applying your personal brand to social media. As Mollica pointed out, trust is of the utmost importance when it comes to social media. WIthout trust, all your efforts to craft the perfect tweet or post are fruitless in reaching your audience. Establishing trust on your social media platforms will ensure that your brand will not only be seen, but it will be recognized and respected.

Precision posts

To establish trust and brand your social media platforms, Mollica suggests first taking inventory of where you’re at right now. Are you reaching your desired audiences? Are you posting as much as you’d like? And are these posts as engaging as they could be? 

Examine the quality of your posts too. As Forbes suggests, make sure they all carry the values of your brand. Brand-specific posts will mean more to your audience and establish your credibility more than an array of random posts. Clear out or adjust your privacy settings on old content that doesn’t fit the bill to brand your accounts.

Know your audience

Another key to applying your personal brand to social media is knowing your audience. Who should you brand be connecting with? You can see what exactly people are looking for with Google Analytics, but you should also know the people behind the searches and cater your content to them.

Mollica suggests reaching out to your audience to get to know them. Simply thanking them for following you is a great way to start the conversation. Creating engaging content is also a good way to get a feel for your audience, and as Meme Burn pointed out, it can lead to a positive impact for your brand’s clients as well as testimonials and credibility for you.

While social media can be a great tool for personal branding, don’t let it be your main platform of operation. After all, you wouldn’t build on rented land, would you? A personal website puts the control of your online footprint in your hands and allows you to put your best foot forward for the digital world. Try Squarespace for the best in personal websites.

How have you applied your brand to social media? Tell us in the comments below.