How to build your personal brand as a tech professional
Want to stand out in the tech industry? Learn how to build your personal brand as a tech professional with our expert tips on defining your niche, creating engaging content, optimising your online presence, and establishing credibility.
If you’re like me, you might have a few internet favourites that you keep an eye out for on your social feeds. I’ll always stop scrolling to see a post by my favourite creators, whether it’s industry news or homeware hauls. I’ve had countless conversations about “we should have locked in on our personal brands when we were in secondary school. We’d be rich by now”.
But in reality, it’s never too late to become an expert in your field and have your thoughts valued by like-minded scrollers. All your favourite LinkedIn posters started in the same position you did. Let’s talk about how to grow your personal professional brand from nothing.
Written by
Polly is a Marketing Executive at Learning People, bringing extensive expertise in professional training and career development, including in-demand fields like data, tech, cyber security, cloud computing, project management, and business skills.
Pin down your niche
What are you interested in? What are you trained in? What areas are you qualified to impart knowledge? If there’s anything that makes you unique within your field, make it your USP. If you’re a cyber security expert, maybe you specialise in ethical hacking or risk management. If you’re a software developer, maybe your main area of interest is AI.
People are drawn to specialists. While being a generalist has its advantages, being an expert in a clear niche makes you more memorable.
Take some time to identify your specialist area by answering these questions:
- What do you love talking about?
- What problems can you solve for others?
- What topics excite you enough that you could create content consistently?
Establish yourself online
Your personal brand lives online, so your profiles should reflect your expertise. LinkedIn is a must for tech professionals, but don’t overlook platforms GitHub or Medium if they align with your specific field.
With our exclusive Career Services guidance, you’ll get a comprehensive rundown of just how to optimise your LinkedIn presence. This includes some of the following tips:
- Headline: Clearly state what you do and who you help. Instead of just “Software Developer,” try “Software Developer | Building scalable web apps for startups”.
- About: Share your story and what makes you different. This is how you build credibility and personality.
- Featured: Showcase your best work; blog posts, project case studies.
- Content: Post or share content about your field consistently and engage with others’ content to boost your visibility.
For developers, keeping an updated GitHub profile with well-documented projects can establish credibility. If you’re in cyber security, writing about threats and solutions on Medium or Substack can set you apart. The key is to make it easy for people to see what you know and why they should follow you.
Content creation
Your audience needs a reason to follow and engage with you. That doesn’t mean you need to go viral, it just means you need to show up regularly and share insights that your network finds interesting or helpful.
Content could include things like explaining complex topics in layman’s terms, industry trends, personal anecdotes and career lessons, or tutorials. Consistency matters more than perfection. Start small; maybe one LinkedIn post per week or a short monthly blog post.
Networking
Your brand isn’t just about what you post, it’s also about how you engage. Commenting on relevant posts or discussions and attending industry events (virtual or in-person) can open doors.
Some networking tips:
- Engage with industry leaders: Thoughtful comments on their posts can help you get noticed.
- Join online communities: Slack groups and Reddit forums can help you connect with peers.
- Attend and speak at events: Start by attending, then work towards presenting at webinars or conferences.
The more you interact, the more your name will be associated with your expertise.
Thought leadership
Once you’ve built some momentum, you can take your brand to the next level by establishing yourself as a thought leader. You can do this by pitching to relevant website or blogs to write guest articles, speak on podcasts, offer your mentorship to juniors in your field, or even create your own newsletter that other professionals can subscribe to.
Authenticity
The best and most respectable personal brands feel genuine. You don’t need to try to sound like someone else, you can lean into your personality and unique perspective. People follow people, not faceless corporations.
And remember, your brand will evolve. As you move through your industry, you’re bound to gain new experiences and shift focus over time. Adapt and grow and your audience will grow with you.
Building your personal brand as a tech professional doesn’t happen overnight, but the best time to start is now. Define your niche, get set up online, create decent content, engage with your industry, and establish credibility. With consistency and authenticity, you’ll establish yourself as a respected and valued voice in your field.
Header image credit: bongkarn - stock.adobe.com
