PERSONAL BRANDING CHECKLIST
JessicaLawlor.com/PersonalBranding
Want to grow your blog, land a new job, discover freelance opportunities,
partner with brands and get more attention online? You must have a strong personal brand.
Maximize your personal brand and online presence by following this checklist.
Ready to take your personal brand to the next level?Book a 45-minute Personal Branding Bootcamp Session with Jessica Lawlor
WEBSITE/BLOG¨ Do you have your own website or blog?
¨ Create a comprehensive “About Me” page - don’t forget to include a picture of your gorgeous self!
¨ Make it easy to contact you - use a contact form or share your email address.
¨ Link to your social media accounts.
¨ Create a portfolio or press page to share examples of your work and accolades or mentions about you and your blog.
¨ Develop a services or “work with me” page to outline the work you can provide to potential clients.
¨ Build your email list and start a newsletter. (I recommend Mailchimp - it's FREE for up to 2,000 subscribers.)
¨ Get testimonials/recommendations from those you’ve worked with for that all-important third-party endorsement.
¨ Blog consistently to showcase passion and expertise.
¨ Use at least one photo in every single blog post you publish.
¨ Learn simple SEO to help your content be discovered. A Wordpress plugin like Yoast SEO makes SEO easy to understand and implement.
¨ Use “categories” to sort your blog posts and make it easy for readers to find what they are looking for.
¨ Include a search bar on your blog’s side bar.
¨ Develop a content roundup to get on the radar of influencers and build relationships with other personal brands and businesses.
¨ Share, share, share! Use the “rule of 3” and promote every post in at least three places online.
FACEBOOK¨ Do you have a Facebook account?
¨ Customize your Facebook username in “General Account Settings” to a variation of your name i.e. http://facebook.com/YOURNAME.
¨ Update your “About” section and utilize space to write an "Intro." (Be sure to include a link to your blog or website!)
¨ Check your privacy settings. Be sure posts are set to “public” when you want to share updates broadly.
¨ Join and participate in relevant Facebook groups for your industry.
¨ Let your personal network in on what you’re doing - don’t be afraid to share personal AND professional content with your audience.
¨ Consider creating a brand Facebook page for your blog, business or personal brand to utilize sponsored posts and create ads.
LINKEDIN¨ Do you have a LinkedIn account?
¨ Make your profile as complete as possible.
¨ Write a strong summary that introduces who you are to people who view your profile.
¨ Repurpose bullets from your resume for positions on LinkedIn.
¨ Add your blog as one of your “positions” on LinkedIn! Your blog counts as work “Experience.”
¨ Add media! LinkedIn now allows you to include documents, images, videos and presentations to positions on your profile.
¨ Get at least three recommendations/testimonials.
¨ Publish original or repurposed content through LinkedIn’s publishing tool.
¨ Share relevant posts/articles to build trust and credibility.
¨ Connect with others! When you do, always send a personalized invitation.
TWITTER¨ Do you have a Twitter account?
¨ Make your username recognizable. A variation of your name works best for personal branding.
¨ Complete your Twitter bio - take advantage of all 160 characters provided.
¨ Find an appropriate blend of original tweets, replies and retweets.
¨ Be a resource and spread the love - share your own content and share the work of others.
¨ Use a Twitter scheduling tool like Hootsuite or Bu�er to save time and pre-schedule tweets.
¨ Include an image with your tweets to get more engagement.
¨ Say hello to the people who have followed you recently with a personal tweet.
¨ Create a private “notice me” Twitter list to keep up with influencers and those you’d like to connect with for easy monitoring and interacting.
¨ Use relevant Twitter hashtags.
¨ Participate in Twitter chats - they are agreat way to network with others who share your interests.
¨ Utilize Twitter’s “pinned tweet.”
¨ Live broadcast on Periscope! It’s connectedwith Twitter.
PINTEREST¨ Do you have a Pinterest account?
¨ Fill out your bio and include a link to your website.
¨ Create a board for your blog to pin your blog posts.
¨ Create a board to pin articles/resources related to your professional interests/goals.
¨ Create a portfolio board to pin your resume, accolades and portfolio items.
¨ Use a free tool like Canva to design fun "pinnable" graphics for your blog posts or online content. (Size matters! Canva recommends Pinterest's desired dimensions.)
INSTAGRAM¨ Do you have an Instagram account?
¨ Fill out your bio.
¨ Add a link to your blog or website. You get ONE link on Instagram. Use it wisely.
¨ Change your link when you have something special to share/promote and let your followers know in an Instagram post.
¨ Use hashtags; between 5-10 are most e�ective.
¨ Browse hashtags relevant to your brand and engage with other people’s content by liking and commenting.
¨ Insert line breaks into your caption for easy reading.
¨ Tag other users/brand accounts when relevant.
¨ Add a location to your post.
¨ Keep your profile visually consistent by using the same edit/filter on photos.
SNAPCHAT¨ Do you have a Snapchat account?
¨ Design a custom Snapcode and cross-promote it on other social platforms to gain new followers.
¨ Create your own Snapchat story!
¨ Use a mix of photo and video in Snapchat stories.
¨ Don’t be afraid to get personal and talk to the camera.
¨ Get a little silly on Snapchat - this is the place to showcase what’s real.
¨ Create a custom geofilter (especially smart if you’re hosting or speaking at an event).
“Jessica’s personal branding brilliance has given me the tools I need to reach more people and do the work that is so important to me."
-Jennifer Kreatsoulas, Chime Yoga Therapy
Take a deep dive into your personal brand. Book a 45-minute Personal Branding Bootcamp Session with Jessica Lawlor
WEBSITE/BLOG¨ Do you have your own website or blog?
¨ Create a comprehensive “About Me” page - don’t forget to include a picture of your gorgeous self!
¨ Make it easy to contact you - use a contact form or share your email address.
¨ Link to your social media accounts.
¨ Create a portfolio or press page to share examples of your work and accolades or mentions about you and your blog.
¨ Develop a services or “work with me” page to outline the work you can provide to potential clients.
¨ Build your email list and start a newsletter. (I recommend Mailchimp - it's FREE for up to 2,000 subscribers.)
¨ Get testimonials/recommendations from those you’ve worked with for that all-important third-party endorsement.
¨ Blog consistently to showcase passion and expertise.
¨ Use at least one photo in every single blog post you publish.
¨ Learn simple SEO to help your content be discovered. A Wordpress plugin like Yoast SEO makes SEO easy to understand and implement.
¨ Use “categories” to sort your blog posts and make it easy for readers to find what they are looking for.
¨ Include a search bar on your blog’s side bar.
¨ Develop a content roundup to get on the radar of influencers and build relationships with other personal brands and businesses.
¨ Share, share, share! Use the “rule of 3” and promote every post in at least three places online.
FACEBOOK¨ Do you have a Facebook account?
¨ Customize your Facebook username in “General Account Settings” to a variation of your name i.e. http://facebook.com/YOURNAME.
¨ Update your “About” section and utilize space to write an "Intro." (Be sure to include a link to your blog or website!)
¨ Check your privacy settings. Be sure posts are set to “public” when you want to share updates broadly.
¨ Join and participate in relevant Facebook groups for your industry.
¨ Let your personal network in on what you’re doing - don’t be afraid to share personal AND professional content with your audience.
¨ Consider creating a brand Facebook page for your blog, business or personal brand to utilize sponsored posts and create ads.
LINKEDIN¨ Do you have a LinkedIn account?
¨ Make your profile as complete as possible.
¨ Write a strong summary that introduces who you are to people who view your profile.
¨ Repurpose bullets from your resume for positions on LinkedIn.
¨ Add your blog as one of your “positions” on LinkedIn! Your blog counts as work “Experience.”
¨ Add media! LinkedIn now allows you to include documents, images, videos and presentations to positions on your profile.
¨ Get at least three recommendations/testimonials.
¨ Publish original or repurposed content through LinkedIn’s publishing tool.
¨ Share relevant posts/articles to build trust and credibility.
¨ Connect with others! When you do, always send a personalized invitation.
TWITTER¨ Do you have a Twitter account?
¨ Make your username recognizable. A variation of your name works best for personal branding.
¨ Complete your Twitter bio - take advantage of all 160 characters provided.
¨ Find an appropriate blend of original tweets, replies and retweets.
¨ Be a resource and spread the love - share your own content and share the work of others.
¨ Use a Twitter scheduling tool like Hootsuite or Bu�er to save time and pre-schedule tweets.
¨ Include an image with your tweets to get more engagement.
¨ Say hello to the people who have followed you recently with a personal tweet.
¨ Create a private “notice me” Twitter list to keep up with influencers and those you’d like to connect with for easy monitoring and interacting.
¨ Use relevant Twitter hashtags.
¨ Participate in Twitter chats - they are agreat way to network with others who share your interests.
¨ Utilize Twitter’s “pinned tweet.”
¨ Live broadcast on Periscope! It’s connectedwith Twitter.
PINTEREST¨ Do you have a Pinterest account?
¨ Fill out your bio and include a link to your website.
¨ Create a board for your blog to pin your blog posts.
¨ Create a board to pin articles/resources related to your professional interests/goals.
¨ Create a portfolio board to pin your resume, accolades and portfolio items.
¨ Use a free tool like Canva to design fun "pinnable" graphics for your blog posts or online content. (Size matters! Canva recommends Pinterest's desired dimensions.)
INSTAGRAM¨ Do you have an Instagram account?
¨ Fill out your bio.
¨ Add a link to your blog or website. You get ONE link on Instagram. Use it wisely.
¨ Change your link when you have something special to share/promote and let your followers know in an Instagram post.
¨ Use hashtags; between 5-10 are most e�ective.
¨ Browse hashtags relevant to your brand and engage with other people’s content by liking and commenting.
¨ Insert line breaks into your caption for easy reading.
¨ Tag other users/brand accounts when relevant.
¨ Add a location to your post.
¨ Keep your profile visually consistent by using the same edit/filter on photos.
SNAPCHAT¨ Do you have a Snapchat account?
¨ Design a custom Snapcode and cross-promote it on other social platforms to gain new followers.
¨ Create your own Snapchat story!
¨ Use a mix of photo and video in Snapchat stories.
¨ Don’t be afraid to get personal and talk to the camera.
¨ Get a little silly on Snapchat - this is the place to showcase what’s real.
¨ Create a custom geofilter (especially smart if you’re hosting or speaking at an event).
"Despite spending years in marketing myself, I walked away from a 45-minute personal branding bootcamp session with Jessica full of ideas and motivation. She is incredibly knowledgeable in the world of personal branding. I can’t say enough.”
–Sara Frandina, Copywriter