Companies are not the only ones who should be concerned with their digital footprint. Everyone who has 1 or more active social media accounts should keep in mind that their activities online have a long lasting effect. Personal branding is not just for job seekers, it is for those who are already in the job market themselves. Companies understand that employees who have a strong digital brand can be advocates and product evangelists, further expanding their reach organically. An example would be is when Zappos decided to hire the most connected woman on LinkedIn, Stacy Zapar. With over 40,000 connections on the social media platform, Stacy continues to use this leverage for her Branding & Sourcing role. Making thousands of connections might not be your immediate goal online, but here are 3 tips to help your personal brand shine through:

• Let your personality shine – “I am a little nerdy. I am a gamer. I am into women’s empowerment. These are the things that speak to me. I’ve built that brand” says Zapar. Allowing your true colors to shine will make it easier to interact and develop original content. After all, building a personal brand requires consistency and the easiest way to stay consistent is to be yourself.
• Put your best foot forward – It’s important to always be conscientious when uploading content on any of your social networks. Fill out all the social media headers correctly with high quality photos and positive content. As tempting as it is to go on a rant on Twitter, keep in mind that someone from senior management can easily view that with one Google search.
• Bring it offline – “Zapar suggests joining as many groups as you can. This helps people find you easily and allows you to connect with other people in your industry when you contribute to discussions.” Joining groups and events after work can create a stronger bond with connections you’ve made online. Going to after work events also signifies your influencer status by sharing original and interesting content.

Having a reputable personal brand takes years and disciplined consistency in the making. The benefits certainly outweigh the work it takes to get there. Individuals seeking employment can get a personal edge over candidates with average social media presence. Those who are employed have a better chance of staying with their company if they become product or brand evangelists. And as Seth Godin points out in Personal branding in the age of Google: “Everything you do now ends up in your permanent record. The best plan is to overload Google with a long tail of good stuff and to always act as if you’re on Candid Camera, because you are”. Interested in more personal branding tips? Sign up on our newsletter and stay informed!