In the digital age, personal branding is an absolute must. In fact, while you may not realize it, you already have a brand. How you present yourself face-to-face, on social media and Google are all reflective of the brand you’re building. Whether you’re seeking a new job, wanting to move up in your organization, thinking about a career change, launching a new business or looking to attract new clients, a strong consistent personal brand is key to creating new opportunities for your career or business.

What do people think when they hear your name? What do they say about you when you’re not in the room? That’s all personal brand. The better question is: do you leave your personal brand up to chance or do you take charge of it?

A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation to Lancaster Young Professionals at The Candy Factory on personal branding, a topic I love talking about. I touched on the importance of creating a personal brand, shared examples of young professionals who have built their own personal brands and provided a few actionable ways to grow and maintain your personal brand.

For the full slide deck, check out "Personal branding with a purpose" on SlideShare.

Featured image by Ernesto Artillo.