You probably hear it all the time, “you need to build your personal brand.” But what is a personal brand? Well, all the things that makeup you. Your name, the way you dress, write and speak. The way you do business and in this digital era, your online reputation. Communicate your brand in your day-to-day actions. Dress sharp, be early, listen and follow through when you say you will. And since most people view Google as a trusted source of information, treat your online reputation like your real-life reputation. Be vigilant. Google yourself. See what comes up. And don’t be afraid to add your occupation to the search. If you’ve crossed paths with a potential client, it’s likely they’ll use this exact formula to get info on you and your organization.

Online search results often make your first-impression for you, so keep a clean presence. If the search returns bad results, cleanse your reputation. Services like BrandYourself help you remove negative or irrelevant search results. Don’t forget to increase your privacy settings and delete controversial posts from your social channels. Google search results include Facebook, Instagram, and all major social platforms. Remember you can control what people see when they search your name, you just have to invest in your personal brand.

Buy a domain, create a website and tell your story. Think of it as your online elevator pitch. Keep it short and informative, but talk about your professional experience and interests. Use your website and social channels to be a thought leader. Share information your audience will benefit from—industry insight, upcoming trends, discounts, and promotions. Then reflect. Ask a mentor to give you feedback or use a social monitoring tool to determine what your audience likes. Posting valuable, engaging content to your social feeds will grow your network, which in turn widens your sales funnel and drives revenue to your company.

Personal branding, just like sales is all about networking. So work your network. Use your professional connections to grow your online connections. Remember your personal brand is you. So get out there and work your best angles.

SalesBoost courses are offered on subscription bases as a package of courses.