# Branding
In its essence, branding is the art of creating an image for something or someone (be it a product or a person) in the eyes of the people who interact with it in some way. In today's digital world, however, it's much more than just some random actions taken every now and then.

Everyone is a brand today, it's just that people don't realize it most of the time. Anything you do online becomes part of your overall strategy and affects how others see you. If you do it unconsciously, then you aren't really looking to build a name for yourself, improve your online presence or run a profitable business. Because if you did have these objectives, you'd be takings focused steps every single day.

Luckily, it's never too late to start developing a positive image about yourself in the digital world. Even if you're not sure where you want this to take you, chances are you'll form some connections, build an audience, create a portfolio and gain experience and knowledge of the market.

These concepts go beyond marketing yourself and the niche you are carving on the Steem platform and can be applied to your overall digital persona.

![](https://hd.unsplash.com/photo-1452690700222-8a2a1a109f4c)

# Improve Your Personal Brand Daily

Here are easy daily actions you can take that will get you closer to improving your personal brand and seeing the success you desire:

### Have your own website - that's the best place to start

You need it because it will be your online home, and you'll have full control over it. Go with WordPress, a self-hosted version, and get a domain with your name.  Better yet, you can wait for the Steem / Wordpress integration!  Depending on your budget, you can hire a developer and a designer, or you can learn the basics of this open source platform and explore the countless possibilities that Wordpress (and soon, Steem, too!) offers in terms of themes, plugins,  widgets and more.

### Dedicate More Time to Your About Page

That's where people will go to learn more about you and your work. Make it professional - include your CV and important details like work samples, but also add a personal touch. Tell your story in an engaging way.  Be authentic. People respect that.

![](https://hd.unsplash.com/photo-1433170865691-bb4bbc4d39cc)

### Blog!

Whatever field you're in, writing your own articles will help you build a name for yourself. You don't need to have any special skills, although copywriting always comes in handy. Just share what you think about recent events in your industry, write practical blog posts on what mistakes you've made in the past and how you got back on your feet, and encourage people to be their best.

### Be social

Have a profile on multiple social media platforms. Put some thought in creating the accounts: what username to use so that you can be found by the right people, what bio or description to write so that you can stand out, what content you'll be sharing and how often so that others will click it and comment, etc. Also, reach out to anyone that seems interesting, who shares your posts, whose updates grabbed your attention or who is an influencer in your niche. Networking is a never-ending process. You can never know where your next job lead or potential partner or customer will come from.

### Every email and post matters

Whenever you're writing something, don't just do it on autopilot. Even if it's a quick email, be polite. When it's more important though, remember to follow up. Sometimes, people are too busy and forget to get back to you.

![](https://hd.unsplash.com/photo-1453799527828-cf1bd7b2f682)

### Photos

Take some professional photos and add them to social media and your About and portfolio page. People will take you more seriously this way.

### Do work for free and gather testimonials  

Word of mouth is key these days with so much competition and low quality freelancers out there. Do what you do on the side first and be okay with doing it for free for some time. People will appreciate it, will become fans of your work, and will then tell their friends about you. What's more, you'll gain experience, become known in the field and will ask for testimonials and referrals in return. That's priceless.

### So that's how you can take personal branding to the next level. What will you do today to improve your online presence?

(images courtesy of [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com))