In today’s digital age, it is increasingly important to stand out. Not only in the offline world, but just as much in the online world, on the social media platforms. Being deliberate in how you present yourself is the difference maker between getting the ‘Hell yeah!’ or the ‘No way!’. That’s where personal branding comes in.

Everything we do is becoming traceable, and our future employers, clients, partners want to have as much information as possible on who they’re dealing with. They search for us on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and even Instagram, and you want to OWN the information they find. That’s why it is important to be aware and conscious of the information we put out there; if they don’t find any information about you, you get the question mark of “Who is s/he really!?”, however if people find discreditable info, you definitely have a deficiency to repair.

It’s not only important to present yourself in a positive manner, it is just as important you create the (online) image of yourself that you want people to see. You want to make yourself stand out, be the expert in your respective field. If you are an IT-professional who wants to continue in Blockchain, then make sure you post or comment on related articles, attend those events and interact with professionals in that area. That’s how you get noticed, and that’s when people start viewing you as ‘that Blockchain enthusiast or expert that we can build on’.

What matters is, how you deal with your expertise. I know of many professionals who are excellent in their respective fields, but are not open to share their knowledge with Average Joe or Jane. Being protective of your expertise only gets you so far; if you want to make a true difference, an open source approach will make your brand. Nobody can replicate the knowledge like you own it, so don’t be afraid of educating your (friendly) competitors, rather try to uplift your peers and they will do the same for you! So be open about what you know, share it, and most of all, put in the effort to create the image you want others to see of you.