Your personal brand creates a unique public identity for yourself that communicates who you are, what you’re interested in, and why you’re passionate about it.  Successful personal brands build a following because they are very clear and articulate about these three points.

The biggest decision you will have to make this semester will be made in the next 1-2 weeks: defining what your personal brand is about.  Many students struggle with this.  Some think of too many things they want to write about.  Others can’t think of anything – though often they actually have thought of something but need some help defining it and some validation that it okay to want to write about.

Here are a few resources to look at as you begin to think about your personal brand:

Don’t forget about your Emotional Appeal
There are many introductory articles about personal branding.  Some are awful.  This one isn’t.  I really like how the first step of defining your brand has to do with what the author calls your “emotional appeal.”  We often forget that we have a personality that can come through in our writing.  The characteristics that make up that personality are powerful branding tools – because they are so personal and elicit emotional responses.

Make your Brand Statement a mantra
I love this helpful post by former Apple Evangelist Guy Kawasaki on creating a concise three or four word mantra rather than a mission statement.  Mantras are memorable – and that makes them powerful.  

An alternate view
This article by Ryan Rancatore appears to recommend not having a personal brand statement – but read a little deeper.  What he’s really saying is that if you have one, you have to really live it. 

Your personal brand does not have to encompass everything you are – just what you want to focus on right now.  Good luck!