3 Things You Need to Building Your Personal Brand

When it comes to building your personal brand, it's all about the "like, know, trust" factor. That's how you build an online presence in a way that gets you noticed in the big, wide world as the go-to person within your particular niche, field, or industry.

So, let's get to the basics of building the "like, know, trust" factor:

1. The 'Know'

The "know" part of this factor is literally just that: People have to know that you exist. You may be great at your job, but if your reputation does not transcend the four walls of where you work, how will you get your message out there? That is the first lesson: You absolutely need to be visible.

You may have noticed that I always end my post and emails with "Get Noticed, Get Hired." This is the reason for my catchphrase.

It's extremely difficult to get a job without someone noticing you. For the introverts out there, this may all sound very scary, but it doesn't need to be. There are plenty of ways to do this without having to attend networking and face-to-face meetings. We are not trying to be Kim Kardashian here. No reality show is needed!

However, people will need to know that you exist. Think about it: If they don't know of you, how can they think of you when the right opportunity comes along?

2. The 'Like'

Then we move on to the "like" piece. Let's start with the fact that you're never going to please or be liked by everyone. That's okay – you don't need to be.

That being said, I will point out that in getting yourself noticed, I do not mean that you need to be controversial. Getting yourself noticed is about sharing your expertise so that people realize that you know what you're talking about.

Clients often tell me that they're not outwardly driven to talk about themselves, but the thing is, your experience is a great thing to write about. People spend half their lives trawling the internet for advice from people who have had similar experiences. By sharing your own struggles, thoughts, and opinions – i.e., what you learned when you did X, Y, and Z; or what you wished you had known back then – you can become someone who helps others. You're not just someone bragging about yourself! See the difference?

3. The 'Trust'

Finally, we come to the "trust" factor, which only comes into play with consistency. You do not want to be a one-hit wonder. You need to be consistent. If people begin to follow you and then you go off the radar for six weeks, you will soon fade into oblivion and new people will take your place.

Acquiring trust is a slow process. However, trust me when I say consistency wins every time, hands down. This is where most people fail. If you have a lot of time constraints, you don't need to do all of this yourself; there are people who can help you to manage your online presence.

Why Bother With a Personal Brand?

So, why should you do all this? In a nutshell: It will get you noticed, and it will get you hired. You need to become the go-to person in your particular field or industry. This is not geographically dependent, and regardless of where you currently work or where you want to work, you can maintain your brand and build on it.

I am living proof of this: I have managed to build my own message and spread it way beyond the four walls of where I live. I now have followers across the world in countries such as Macau, Germany, Holland, the US, Canada, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, and more!

Oh, and finally, my global following has allowed me to move to another country. I am able to work from anywhere I choose in the world! As a result, I have recently traded the four walls of my office in London (left) for this outdoor office in Spain (right)! I love the hammock!

Although you may not share my dream of moving someplace sunny, building your brand still has many benefits. One of the biggest ones: You will always have clients or companies chasing you!

So, if you ask me if it's worth doing, I think you know the answer.

Get Noticed, Get Hired.

Susan Burke is an award-winning global careers coach. You can connect with Susan via LinkedIn and grab a complimentary copy of her book direct from her website.