Think of your online footprint as your first impression. This is your personal brand: your business card, portfolio, and resume presented to the world. If someone Googles you, what will they see? This week’s #ThreeforThursday offers some tips on how to get started creating your story.

Here are some ideas from MORe Now on “how to create a personal brand that both compliments your company’s brand, and separates you from the local competition.”

Tools and Tips:

• Most articles will tell you to define 1-4 areas of expertise or “key attributes” that you want to highlight. Once you’ve completed that exercise, take a minute to listen in on the conversations happening in those areas.
  • Use tools like Twitter’s Advanced Search to search by hashtag or keyword.
  • Topsy and Icerocket will search across all social media.
  • Buzzsumo will identify top content and influencers. Figure out where the conversations are happening and then weigh in with your expertise.

• Choose your social media channels and make sure your profile is consistent.
  • Here’s a tool to update all your social network settings in one place.
  • Check out these tips on building your brand on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
  • This post from Forbes’ William Arruda talks about some new tools available on LinkedIn and new trends to look for in 2015.
  • Don’t forget Google+ and YouTube. Though Google+ may not figure as greatly as in the past, both channels will impact your search results.
• Ready to go pro?
  • Take a look at “The Complete Guide to Building Your Personal Brand” from QuickSprout.
  • Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist at Canva, and Peg Fitzpatrick recently released the Art of Social Media, or, as they describe it “The Art of Writing a “Don’t-Twiddle-Your-Thumbs-Just-Go-Do-It” book on the Social Media!” You can view their presentation from SXSW on Slideshare.

Creating a personal brand is not about promoting your ego. The point is to tell your story and be authentic. According to Forbes’ Glenn Llopis, “Having a personal brand is a leadership requirement.  It enables you to be a better leader, a more authentic leader that can create greater overall impact.”