Building a personal brand in a digital age

While you’re busy trying to define your identity offline, your family, friends, peers, employers (and even total strangers) are getting to know you online. You can use this dynamic to your advantage by cultivating your online presence and building a personal brand.

Personal branding isn’t something only celebrities or influencers have to think about. Every post, like, share, and comment creates a digital reflection of who you are, what you value, and where your interests lie. While social media isn’t an official part of most application processes, it’s still a part of what you bring to the table. Colleges, future employers, scholarship committees, and even local volunteer organizations want to build strong communities, and they’re looking for individuals who will contribute positively and mesh well with their culture.

In a crowded digital world, having a clear personal brand helps you get noticed. It also helps you build credibility and showcase your true skills, interests, and passions. So, let’s talk about a few ways you can make a great digital first impression.

Discover your strengths, skills, and interests

Building a personal brand takes time, but the process is impossible without a clear vision of the image you want to project to the world. The first step? Exploring who you are and what you like to do. 

Since building a personal brand and personal growth go hand in hand, anything that expands your skillset, introduces new experiences, and broadens your perspectives will be beneficial. Start by evaluating the skills you lean on most. Are you a strong writer or great with people? Do you love spending hours getting lost in research? You can practice and develop these skills into key elements of your personal brand. 

Since introspection without experience is hard, look for opportunities to expand your horizons. Do you enjoy doodling on the side of your notebook during class? Consider enrolling in an online arts class or summer program to see if it’s something you want to seriously pursue. Are you a big fan of video games? Join an esports league or take a game design course to try building one yourself.

Alas, we can’t monetize all our hobbies. But maybe there’s a class you particularly love, or a subject you excel at. Say you’re a math wiz — you could explore fields that utilize that logical/analytical side of your brain, like programming, finance, or engineering. 

This exploration helps you clarify your interests and values and imagine a future where your talents can thrive. Once you know which direction to head in, you can start building your online presence with purpose.

Social media: professional vs. personal use

If you’re among the vast number of teens using social media, you likely have an online presence already. Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are great ways to connect with friends, share fun snapshots from your life, and create memories you can look back at for years to come.

However, when building your personal brand, it’s important to know the difference between personal vs. professional content. For instance, if you want to become a scientist one day, posting pictures of your friends hanging out at a school dance or at the movies isn’t going to help you reach your goals. Conversely, a picture of you at your school’s science fair, paired with a summary of your project, certainly could!

Check out these examples of professional content you could share to cultivate your personal brand:

• Work experience (jobs, internships)
• Academic achievements (significant projects, recognition/awards, competitions)
• Volunteering (particularly experiences where you led or championed an initiative)
• Samples of your work (art, writing excerpts, marketing materials, coding projects, etc.)

Building an online professional presence doesn't mean you can’t also share parts of your personal life. The key is to use your online activity strategically. In general, a good rule of thumb is to keep your personal accounts private, only allowing those you know and trust access to them. Make your professional accounts public so future employers, peers, and mentors can find you and see what cool and interesting things you’re up to.

Managing your online presence 

Before you start building your professional profile online, start by auditing what you’ve already posted. Decide whether it is appropriate, respectful, and an accurate reflection of who you are today. If it isn’t, it doesn’t belong online. There’s nothing wrong with deleting or archiving old posts.

When you’re satisfied with your current content, choose a “hub” where your professional online profile will live. Which digital platform will host the content you post that’s related to your professional life? Some websites are great for sharing your work, while others are great for connecting with like-minded individuals:

• LinkedIn: Social media for professionals. You can summarize your educational and professional experience, message and network with people in your field, share industry-related news and thoughts, and even apply to jobs.
• Website/digital portfolio: Platforms like Behance, Dribbble, Wix, and Google Sites provide a digital space to showcase your work and help others learn more about you.
• Instagram/TikTok: These social media platforms are great for artists and anyone looking to share their work or create content. If you use these in your personal life, consider creating a “professional” account and keeping your posts, likes, shares, and messages separate.

Over time, your professional brand will grow and develop, just like you. As you keep posting, keep these five tips in mind: 

1. Use a professional profile photo across platforms. Ideally, choose a clear, high-res photo of yourself against a simple background (think less selfie, more yearbook photo).
2. Join clubs, communities, or online forums related to your interests. Connecting with others is a great way to hone your skills, receive feedback, hear about local opportunities, and learn about unique job opportunities.
3. Post regularly, but thoughtfully. Regular posting is good for engagement, but don’t feel pressured to post every week if that’s not your thing. What is important? Updating your profile to reflect new job positions, accomplishments, certifications, and other work-related milestones.
4. Keep a portfolio of your best work. Many fields, from copywriting to coding, expect job candidates to submit a portfolio during the interview process. This evidence of your skills and background also builds your brand and highlights your impact.
5. If you’re not 100% confident in a post, don’t post it. While you can’t control what anyone else posts about you, you have total control over what you post and send into the world. What you share is part of your story — make it one you’re proud of.