How (And Why You Should) Build Your Personal Brand As A Developer

In business, brand identities are crucial. They distinguish you from competition and give potential clients the opportunity to get to know you and your work.

So, although you are probably least interested in marketing yourself online and developing your virtual image, you should work on it. That is the only way for you to stand out in the fiercely competitive IT industry and take advantage of a wide range of opportunities.

And because of that, in this article, we will discuss why you should build your personal brand as a developer and how to create your own brand that is unique and authentic.

Use Personal Brand As A Developer To Get Recognition

One of the reasons to build a personal brand as a developer is getting recognition. You can be the best developer in the industry, write the best code, and possess in-depth knowledge of a certain technology, but none of this will matter if no one can see you. How do you then gain visibility?

We live in a world where you can only exist if you are searchable, thus if you are not on Google, you have never existed. So basically, if you don’t exist in the online world, it’s like you don’t exist at all. When hiring someone, employers will look them up on Google to learn more. And they don’t do that because they are stalkers, but because they simply want to understand who they are as a person.

Read more: How To Manage Your Digital Footprint

You must be wondering ‘but how to start?’ Well, you could start with asking yourself what values do you hold? As well as how would you like to be perceived by others? And go ahead, ask someone. Be it your colleagues, your boss, or friends. Because, although personal branding is frequently thought of as how you see yourself, it actually means the complete opposite. It has to do with how other people see you.

Once you get to understand what it is that makes you different and authentic, start creating your own content. And here are some tips on how to create your own unique brand that will hopefully help you on your road! 

Create Personal Website And Portfolio

To build your personal brand as a developer, you need a website. Your portfolio website serves as an electronic resume. This is your chance to produce something wholly original and under your complete control. When someone (like, for example, your future client) searches for your name on a search engine like Google, they will quickly find you.

This implies that if somebody offers you a job and asks you about your previous projects, you should only provide them with a link to your website (your portfolio). As it includes information on your projects, talents, and prior experiences. Cool, right?

Bonus tip: Don’t forget your portfolio has to be creative and organized. Also, you can add your résumé, skills, testimonials, and links to your social media page on your website.

Use Social Media To Build Personal Brand As A Developer

Some people might think that using Instagram, Facebook and Twitter is a waste of time, and although it’s possible that they are, we want to add that social media gives you the opportunity to develop fantastic relationships with individuals. Social networking is another place where you may always find something worthwhile. Simply, having a presence on social media is crucial for your personal brand as a developer because this is where you’ll locate your future clients and colleagues.

Posting images of your workspace and completed tasks are great ways to develop relationships. Your audience wants to see what makes you such a successful web developer. So, by sharing your routines, advice, and suggestions, you may spark an engaging conversation.

Everyone is aware that LinkedIn is the hub of activity. There will be recruiters, interviewers, and peers you may network with. Updating your profile and portfolio, posting relevant news and thought pieces, and even creating articles just for LinkedIn can be quite helpful. Additionally, the more LinkedIn activity you have, the more others will be able to find you on the feed or in the suggested connections section.

Create A Blog That Will Help You Build Your Personal Brand As A Developer

While some people assert that podcasts and blogs are dead, we don’t concur. You can blog about simply – your life and share items you wish to share to help people get a better understanding of who you are. It can be a great step in building a personal brand as a developer. There are also a number of people who write on extremely technical blogs about their areas of specialty, which is fantastic since it allows them to highlight their knowledge and abilities. There are many blog platforms available to do this without spending a lot of money, like WordPress, Medium, GitHub etc.

You can choose to pick a single subject and stick with it. That way, you will establish an audience since people will regularly visit your website for the excellent material you produce. Also, you can choose to write about different topics and have something for everyone. Choose your strategy and decide how often and when you will publish the content. For example, three to four blogs per week would be just perfect! 

To Build A Personal Brand As A Developer – Network

A community is composed of a group of people who have common goals and passions. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to be a part of the community when building your personal brand as a developer, because there are so many advantages, like career advancement and job chances.

Developing your personal brand, you will inevitably begin connecting and speaking with your community. You will be able to learn more about subjects that interest you. Taking part in discussions, and consuming the work of others, you will actively reinforce your learning.

Joining a community will allow you to discuss issues and identify solutions. It is a method to inspire others and gain inspiration from their experiences. In the end, it is a great place to find good mentors who can help you on your road.

Additionally, when you have a personal brand, you can meet a lot of wonderful people online that you might not have otherwise. You would miss out on meeting beautiful people and learning about amazing communities if you were not online!

In Conclusion

In the end, building your personal brand as a developer is similar to running your own business, of which you are the CEO. You may separate out from the crowd and become more noticeable by developing a personal brand.

Your personal brand affects how the public perceives you. It encompasses your reputation, the development of your brand, and marketing.

Though it can be difficult, developing a personal brand is worthwhile. By using the advice we’ve provided in this article, you can lay the groundwork for your personal brand and begin to tell your own story. Why are you waiting? Develop your own brand right away!