There’s a reason the saying “put your best foot forward” is so commonly used – and nailing your personal branding is one of the most effective ways of doing it. Your personal branding will influence how others perceive you, and can impact your success in the working world.
Whether you’re an executive or CEO finessing your own personal brand, or you’re part of an agency working on your client’s social strategy and personal branding, Twitter can help you drive success in four steps.
Why is your personal brand important?
Your personal brand is how the world sees you. It’s what people use to decide how they feel about you, whether or not they trust you – and from a business perspective, if they want to work with or purchase from you.
The great news is that you are very much in control of your personal brand. You can be completely intentional about how you position yourself on social media, and what value you bring.
Twitter is what’s happening in the world, and what people are talking about right now. The communities on Twitter shape and drive conversations and perceptions every day.
There are over 1.2 million c-suite executives on Twitter, joining in the daily conversation1, growing their personal brand and carving their place as thought leaders. 74% of people on Twitter feel they know CEOs with Twitter accounts better2 — such as their opinions and interests. And 69% of those surveyed perceive a company leader on Twitter as one who cares about their customers.3 This makes Twitter the perfect place for leaders to come to leverage the community and build their personal brand.
Here are four ways to succeed with your personal branding, shape yourself as a thought leader, and connect to Twitter’s receptive audience:
Define your expertise
Think about the areas you are an expert in, and those you are passionate about – these may fall outside of your professional career, and that’s completely fine.
On Twitter, people will respond best when it’s clear you have a genuine passion for the things you Tweet about, and the conversations you take part in.
When you define these areas, try to find your niche within this. Can you narrow it down to a subsection of this area? The more unique and engaging your Tweets about your specialty are, the more your followers will think of you as a thought leader in that field.
Choose your key messages
Next, decide what your key messaging is. This will likely come naturally as it will be influenced by the things you feel strongly about within your areas of expertise.
Perhaps you’re a big believer in working smarter rather than longer, or you strive to find more sustainable and eco-friendly ways to work every day. These beliefs will often underpin your conversations on Twitter and help formulate your key messaging.
Remember to always try to add value for your followers – provide key insights, learnings, and experiences as much as you can. This will help build trust between you and your followers, and also your business.
Be authentic
People will recognize those who are being their authentic selves on social media and those who are not being genuine. Being authentic will attract people with similar views and values – drawing an audience of like-minded customers to your brand.
This also includes being as honest and transparent with your followers as possible. 90% of those who follow CEOs on Twitter expect them to ask and answer questions about theircompany and industry4, so don’t be afraid to try this out if you’re comfortable doing so.
Join the conversation
No matter your area of expertise or line of work, Twitter’s audience is engaging with it – in 2021, there was a an +89% increase in Tweet volume about TV, +268% in finance, +106% in beauty, +408% in music, and +59% in health5 – just to name a few.
In a Twitter Insiders survey, 67% of those who follow a CEO on Twitter agreed they feel closer to brands when the CEO is on the platform.6 The value of CEOs and company executives being on Twitter to connect to their brands’ followers is undeniable.
Engage with your audience by creating and joining the conversations they’re involved in and replying, liking, and Retweeting. Be sure to engage with your own employees by celebrating them and any company wins – customers will enjoy these insights too.
Now you’ve gotten the first steps to creating your personal brand, it’s time to connect with your audience and prove yourself as a thought leader.
Follow us on @TwitterBusiness for more tips, tricks, and insights.
