Why Personal Branding Matters

The personal brand you establish for yourself matters. What do we mean by this?

Your personal brand encompasses:

• Products/services you offer (if any)

• Values, beliefs, and personality

• Images projected both in real life and through social media

As cliche as it sounds, it is very important to be mindful of what you post. While your personal page may look different from your business page, it is important that you are maintaining professionalism by projecting a consistent image.

Because social media has such an integral role in our society, a lot of impressions are formed and decisions are based on it. In fact, approximately 76% of consumers will look at a company’s online presence before visiting its physical location. People perceive you in a certain way based on what you post. Therefore, it is important to be careful and intentional about what you are posting on any social media platform.

Also, the Internet is forever- nothing disappears. Even if you post something for a short amount of time and immediately delete it, it can still be found and traced back to you. While posting something inappropriate or contradictory to your brand image may seem like a minor mishap, it could have disastrous effects or hinder your ability to get a job.

Additionally, our CEO, Jessica Campbell, says, "When you get hired somewhere, you then become an extension or ‘ambassador’ of that company. Most people don't realize that. As the CEO of PO3 Agency, I represent my company and who the company is. My employees, interns, and clients also represent my company, its values, and its image. PO3 Agency prides itself on key values of professionalism, respect, kindness, and honesty. Before I hire anyone or take on any new clients I look carefully at their social media presence to see if our values align. If I were to hire an employee or take on a new client that completely opposes these values, that would discredit all of the time, work, and heart put into my company’s image in an instant. Even though neither I myself nor my company were posting those things, by affiliation, the public would start to associate my company/brand with their behavior. That is why personal branding matters."

While it is important to be aware that you should avoid posting certain content, we are also here to provide tips on how you can create content on your personal page that will help strengthen or promote your personal image and branding. For example:

Are you interested in fashion/modeling?

• Put on a unique outfit that showcases your style

• Take some cool shots in a variety of poses

• Tag your favorite clothing brands

• Apply to become a brand ambassador as well

Are you interested in photography?

• Post some (or all) of your coolest shots

• Showcase your editing skills

• Perhaps try shooting in a variety of different locations

• Ask some of your friends to model for you

Regardless of how we use it, social media will always be there. We might as well use it to benefit ourselves rather than hurt our image. There are many ways to do this, and we hope the tips we just mentioned help you in your branding journey.

For more information on Branding Services, follow PO3 Agency on Instagram @po3agency