This past week I had the chance to hear from Mindy Lockard, or the “Gracious Girl” as she’s branded herself as. Lockard is a nationally known etiquette expert. As a budding PR professional, it is important to have a polished and professional personal brand. Think of your brand as how others see you. Why is having a personal brand so important? It creates credibility and a reputation for yourself. Lockard gave us a wonderful presentation and I’d like to share some of my favorite pieces of advice with you.

On the web…

Social media is one of the most powerful tools to build your brand.

Be mindful of what the characteristics of your brand are. That’s what your content should be.

You are responsible for what other people post on your content, so clean up inappropriate comments if friends post them.

Always use correct grammar and never use profanity.

Have a relevant Twitter handle that people can find. Don’t just use random parts of your name.

Make sure the last 10 photos you posted are what you want people to see. (No “selfies.”)

In real life…

Learn to have conversations with people that do not actually get anything for you.

Speaking of that, do informational interviews.

Maintain eye contact with people. It communicates mutual respect.

Don’t use your phone. It gives people the impression your phone is more important than them.

Give firm handshakes, your full name and calling cards.

Always follow up with handwritten thank you notes.

In yourself…

Authenticity is one of the most important qualities in a person.

Don’t be afraid to be bold.

There is a big difference between confidence and arrogance.

Don’t be desperate: people can smell it a mile away.

Set high goals for yourself.

Go to events alone. It’ll bring you out of your comfort zone and let you meet people you might not of otherwise.

I hope these pieces of advice allow you to perfect your personal brand! I’m off to buy some thank you notes ASAP!