There is no doubt that technology has drastically changed the concept of self-promotion, not to mention identity as a whole. Just look at the landscape we have before us. More than ever before, we can carefully curate the perception of who we are, both personally and professionally. We are each our own brand, and we can share it with the world across all kinds of platforms. It is an exciting time, especially for those of us who are just carving out our very own niche.

As young professionals it is our main objective to find our unique place, and because of social media there are endless possibilities when it comes to how we choose to position our brands. Careers are launched from social media…the creative fields have shifted in such a way that many journalists and artists become famous because of what they comment on through Twitter or the images they post on Instagram. Facebook, as a more mainstream platform, has an extended reach to all types of individuals, and has simultaneously become the platform where many get the majority of their information.

Each of us has our own platform from which to speak their mind, and those who are the most heard are the ones who are able to gain the most followers. This means that everyone has an equal chance if they learn how to hone their brands and use the resources they have to promote themselves. We are in a very unique era when it comes to thinking about our identities, what we want to accomplish, and how we are going to get there. There is exceedingly an intersection between professional and personal identities as a result of social media.

Taking both identities into consideration: the most important thing is to do something different, regardless of our particular field of interest. We have to thoroughly evaluate our surroundings, taking into account what already exists out there (and be sure not to do that) as well as what we specifically bring to the table. Having a clear understanding of our brand and our message means thinking about these things in depth—maybe we’ll write out a list of our strengths or some sort of bio of our journey and where we’d like to go.

Our paths will be acutely different, and that’s the whole point. We can start by identifying the qualities within ourselves that we want our social media profiles to reflect. Writing a list of strengths and even a short bio about oneself can help to inform the overall message and corresponding posts. As a writer, I also find it important to incorporate additional platforms such as WordPress, as a source for content (which can be shared on my social media accounts so that it is able to reach my networks).

We are where our brands start. Without a clear understanding of who we are and what our objective will be, social media would be pointless. Self-promotion starts with the individual, and the platforms we have at our disposal will allow our personal brands to take off.