As you’re probably aware, social media is the talk of the Internet these days, which has created both the ability and need to have a personal brand online. The age of anonymity online has all but ended, so you may as well be visible online and put your best foot forward for networking, job hunting, and other professional purposes.

There has been a great deal written about how to engage with social media to establish a name for yourself online, but a commonly overlooked piece of the puzzle is also one of the simplest: owning your own domain name. A domain name complements the rest of your online presence through branding using yourname.com or a similar variation.

What’s your Online Brand?

Personal branding is inherently somewhat egotistical, but not necessarily more so than networking at a conference or sharing business cards. The way that people seek and consume information has changed rapidly, and as a result the importance of a good personal brand online can have has continued to grow. Barely more than a decade ago, social circles were limited to face-to-face interactions and numbers in a phone book. Now, you can have a much larger reach and audience online, even if you’re focused on a very specific subject. Think of personal branding as simply doing some marketing as the president of Brand You.

To brand yourself successfully online, be ready to share. You have unique opinions, thoughts, knowledge, and experiences that can all be utilized to create an authentic picture of who you are. Whatever your interests and passions, social networking allows you to connect with others who share those interests and passions and want to hear what you have to say. The tools you can use are nearly infinite, but if you’re not already using Linkedin, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, those are great places to start.

How a Domain Fits with Personal Branding

Whether you’re just beginning online or you’re a social media power user who has more online profiles than you know what to do with, a domain is an essential part of owning your brand online. Domain names were around long before social networking sites and still form the backbone of internet navigation today. Many people have never owned a domain, yet they’re more relevant and useful now than ever. Owning a domain is very affordable at under $10 per year, which is a very small price to pay to own the best custom username you can get online. If you don’t already own yourname.com, do a domain search to check its availability. If yourname.com is already taken, .net or .me extensions are also great options for a personal site. If you have a common name and have difficulty finding the right domain, consider using a middle initial, nickname, or other variation. Once you’ve found the perfect domain, consider registering other extensions (.net, .org, .tel, etc.) as well and redirect them to your primary domain.

Once you own your domain, put it to good use! The most obvious choice for what to do with your domain is create a website. If you have some knowledge of html or a website building program, creating a basic website is relatively simple. Content Management Systems like WordPress or Joomla are a popular way to start a blog or create a website without knowing html or web coding. Here are a few ideas of how you could use a website to build your personal brand:

· Showcase your work and talents in an online personal portfolio

· Put your resume online in a website format that highlights your strengths and creativity

· Start a website or blog that features your hobbies and interests

· Create a central location that links to all your social networking profiles

· Start a blog about a professional field or subject you have expertise in

If you choose not to create a website or blog on your own domain, there are still many other things you could use it for:

· Brand yourself with custom email (you@yourname.com). You can even utilize Gmail with your domain using MX records if you don’t want to use separate hosting for your email.

· If you already have a blog set up with a service like Blogger, Posterous, or WordPress.com, use URL forwarding to automatically redirect visitors to that blog when they type in your domain.

· Forward your domain to your Facebook, Twitter, or other online profile.

Regardless of what you use your domain for, it builds an important connection between your name and your online presence. When you meet someone new, you can share your domain name rather than having them search for you on Facebook. Use your domain on business cards, your resume, and other professional materials to give people you network with a better picture of who you are. This also gives you a chance to show off your Internet savvy to potential employers. Whatever the purpose, your domain is a better option for building your online profile than relying on a large number of scattered online profiles.

Why Create a Personal Brand Online?

Personal branding is useful for a wide variety of purposes, particularly in the professional world. If you’re searching for a job, having a well-rounded online presence is an increasingly important factor that many companies consider. Many businesses are taking a look at your social profiles online whether you want them to or not. At the very least many businesses will plug your name into a Google search to see what comes up, so use your domain name to rank well in Google to put the content you want potential employers to see right where they’re going to be looking.

Similarly, use your domain and social media profiles to network on a professional or personal level with others who share the same interests and goals. If you regularly share useful knowledge and content, you can come to be known as an influencer and thought leader in your field. If you aim to start your own business or new project, having an strong network of online connections that trusts you can make a huge difference in whether or not you’re successful. Regardless of the direction you choose to take with personal branding, a domain name as the backbone of your online presence is a great place to start.