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How to Create Your Personal Branding Canvas
And why it matters
As I teach my course titled “Employability, Creativity, and Personal Development” module at the University of East Anglia, one of the seminar exercises I want my students to complete is the Personal Branding Canvas. I believe personal branding has become one of the key requirements and differentiators for young individuals who are entering the job market.
What comes up when you Google yourself? This is your Google Quotient, and it has become a key part of your personal brand. Whenever you have a job interview, your recruiters will Google you and check your social media profiles. Your LinkedIn page is thus another indicator of your online professional presence. It is your job to design and build your online personal presence so that it best reflects your personal brand. For example, this is how Bill Gates introduces his web page:
“I’m lucky enough to get to work with great people and focus on some of the toughest problems the world faces. Things like developing low-carbon and cheap energy sources, improving global health for the world’s poorest, and working to find the best ways to improve our education system. I’ll share notes on Facebook about great organizations, ideas, and events that are helping us make progress. Join us to get involved, learn more, or add your thoughts and perspectives. Thanks for stopping by.”
As you can see, this statement is short, focused, clear, and conversational. It welcomes readers, emphasizes wicked problems, and builds a personal connection with them. It is a good reflection of the personal brand of Bill Gates. “Inside Bill’s Brain” is another documentary delving into the life, goals, and passions of this iconic entrepreneur. This documentary is also a powerful statement — a perfect extension of the personal brand of Bill Gates:
Of course, personal branding is so much more than just online presence. Your personal brand also involves what people think about you and how they talk about you when you are not present. It is the…
