When you Google your name, what comes up? If the answer is 'nothing' you probably haven’t spent much time developing your personal brand. Everyone today is marketing something. It could be a product, a service, an idea, or even a person. In today’s increasingly virtual world, it's important for college students to take the time to establish and pay attention to their online personal brand.

Here are 5 tips for you to keep in mind when creating an online personal brand to promote or market yourself as you embark on your career.

Be genuine and authentic

The easiest way to have an original and unique personal brand is to be genuine and authentic. Not only will this make it much easier to manage your personal brand on a daily basis, but also differentiate you from others in the long run. Millennial influencer and head of marketing at Popular Demand, Monica Lin, says “People can see right through a disingenuous act.”

Tell a story

People are more likely to remember a story than just stating facts. Create a story around your personal brand that the audience can engage with. Your story should show a clear understanding of who you are, what you’re passionate about, and your strengths. This will help you make you more human and authentic which will enhance your chances of establishing an emotional connection with the audience. There is no better spokesperson for your journey and mission than you!

Review and clean up your social media accounts

Your online past can come back to bite you. Take the time to review all of your social media accounts. This will allow you to find things you posted that “seemed like a good idea” and make you say, “I posted/said that?!” now. You can control what your reputation is online, so make changes to ensure all of your visible content is in line with the brand and persona that you want to present. You wouldn’t want anything you posted or said on social media to negatively impact your presence.

Be consistent

It will be easier for you to get recognized if you consistently create content and brand voice around that content. Something consistent visually or personality wise helps people associate with your brand and know it’s you. Secure your name, social media handles, emails, and website addresses. Having a consistent name/brand across all media can help the audience find you.

Write your bio & take a professional headshot

Your bio should answer the question “Who am I?”. It tells your audience who you are and will help them to get to know you, what you stand for, and why they should contact you. Your bio should tell your story quickly. Think of it as a 15-second commercial.

Having a professional headshot shows you at your best, conveys your professionalism, gives people an idea of your personality, and the way you want your audience to see you.

I hope these tips help you to create a personal brand. Creating a personal brand has a ton of benefits, both personally and professionally, and it can help open many doors for you in the future.