People have always had “personal brand”—everyone who knows of famous women like Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, or Mother Theresa can describe who they are, what they valued, and their life’s mission. Although the concept is not new, the term “personal brand” has become a buzzword only recently.
So what is it, exactly?
Your personal brand is how people see you; how they’d describe you—similar to how people describe famous people or companies. It is the set of values and characteristics that describe who you are and guide your choices—in work and in life.
Your personal brand is what makes you, you.
Being aware of, and ultimately in control of, your personal brand is an essential component of building a successful business. It’s essentially a guiding statement that can help you make personal and professional decisions.
A solid personal brand helps people understand who you are, what you offer, what you value, and the quality of work they can expect from you.
It is essentially your reputation.
In the past, your reputation may have been familiar only to those you actually know, such as friends, family members, and colleagues. But the Internet has made everybody’s reputation that much more accessible.
When it comes to starting and growing a business, there’s one kind of equity that can’t be measured in dollars: brand equity. It has nothing to do with cash on hand, real estate, inventory or any other tangible assets, but it’s more important for the health and sustainability of the enterprise than any of them.
A strong personal brand that dovetails seamlessly with a business has the power to turn customers’ perception into profits. This is most important for entrepreneurs who often start businesses with nothing more than an idea and a firm handshake.
Wondering how to be proactive about building your personal brand? These tips are a great place to start:
-
DEFINE YOUR BRAND
Take out a piece of paper and write down the words and values that people would use to describe you. Be honest and choose words that are positive and authentic to who you are.
I believe that you can only be happy when you are accepted for being who you really are. So, as you consider your personal brand, strive to be the best possible version of yourself, but don’t try to be someone you’re not.
-
HAVE A SPECIALTY
Specializing in a skill that is relevant to your field—and being vocal about that!—will help you stand out in the crowd. Companies call this a point of differentiation—consider how your brand (in this case, you) is different from everyone else “on the market”. Why should people choose you over everyone else?
If you can’t think of a skill that’s your specialty, then learn one. This usually means that you have to learn on your own, but that’s easier than ever before—take classes, read industry specific publications, add a passion project, and volunteer for projects that will help you develop your niche.
Everyone hopes to be indispensable at work and having a specialty is an excellent way to provide extra value!
-
WRITE YOUR BIO
Write a short bio—or update the one you have!—so you have it ready. A professional bio is a necessity for freelance writing gigs, networking events, speaking on panels, and keeping your LinkedIn profile up-to-date.
Your bio might include your education, work experience, any published writing or press hits, awards you’ve received, volunteer work, and possibly even some of your personal interests.
(I personally love it when people add something quirky at the end of their bio!)
Just make sure to tailor your bio to your audience!
-
CREATE A BLOG OR PERSONAL WEBSITE
When I started my blog, I never imagined that anyone other than my closest friends and family would read it. I certainly never imagined that my blog might help me get hired for new jobs—and yet, that’s exactly what happened.
Blogging is a great, and often free, way to showcase your creativity and non-academic writing. Even if you don’t yet have your dream job, you can write about your dream industry—whether it’s fashion or the environment.
Although many people find blogging to be fun, it can also take a lot of time. If you aren’t interested in blogging, you can still create a personal website, using your name as the domain name, and highlight your skills and experience there.
-
USE LINKEDIN
LinkedIn is yet another Internet home where you can promote your academic or career changes and achievements. It is, essentially, your digital, public resume.
LinkedIn allows you to put your accomplishments out there for the world (and future employers, partners, and connections) to see. Also, if you set up a LinkedIn profile, it will be one of the first things that people see when they search for you online, so it’s another easy way to exercise control over your digital persona.
[magicactionbox id=”1747″]
-
BUILD YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Whether you’re shy or outgoing, it’s important to be able to communicate well—particularly about yourself—as you build your brand.
I recommend taking public speaking courses, writing courses, and simply practicing regularly. Learn how to tell your story. One way to do this is to practice both a personal and a professional “pitch.”
Before networking events, I always prepare a quick summary of my personal and professional interests and experiences. It is really helpful to be able to quickly and concisely explain what you do, why it is important to you, and your extracurricular interests.
-
PARTICIPATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a perfect—and free!—platform for positively promoting your brand. You can share articles, blog posts, and work-related achievements.
You might also follow people in your industry and jump into relevant conversations by using trending hashtags or those that are most popular in your industry.
Just make sure that everything you post on social media is a good representation of your brand.
-
BUILD YOUR NETWORK
In order to build and share your personal brand, you need to also be building your professional network—both in and out of the office. Networking isn’t just important when you are looking for a job. I’ve learned that you can consistently learn from other people’s career paths and insights at every stage of your career.
So take advantage of the opportunities in your city and your industry to meet new people. You never know how that new connection might be of service to you—or you to them—in the future!
-
BE ON TIME
I once had two qualified applicants that I reached out to in order to set an initial interview that self-selected out. These two agreed to the initial time and both ‘had something come up last minute, and needed to reschedule’ twice!
Needless to say, we did not extend a 3rd invitation to come in. This told us that these individuals could not manage their schedules and certainly weren’t going to be dependable.
Whether you are trying to climb the corporate ladder or starting your own business, personal branding needs to be an essential strategy for your success.
-
CARRY BUSINESS CARDS
Digital networking is great but there is something about a physical piece of paper that is almost a novelty today. Handing out a business card is an easy way to leave a lasting impression without asking anything of the receiver in return.
-
SAY NO
Now that you have your personal brand in place, protect it. Say no to opportunities, projects, freelance work, or social media posts that are not aligned with your brand.
-
DO GOOD WORK & LIVE YOUR VALUES
Your work and actions speak volumes about your personal brand—and you, as an individual. You can say you hold certain values, but your actions, your experience, and your words have to embody them.
One thing that stuck out was that almost everyone said that I am passionate about both the company culture, client work, and my career. I’ve always thought that being passionate is part of my personal brand, and it became clear through my review that I actually embody that.
Have you used any of the tips above to build your personal brand? What has been the most helpful to you? Let us know in the comments below!
Although many business owners recognize the importance of a cohesive, well-designed brand, they don’t always know how to create an affordable one.
And that’s where my FREE Define Your Brand e-course comes in.
This course is a FREE solution for those who are hoping to start a brand from the ground up, re-brand, or refine their current brand. In 5 days, I walk you through the design process I use with my branding clients and let you in on the decisions I make and the design principles I keep mind during each step. See more details here…
*Registration for the FREE Define Your Brand e-course here!
[magicactionbox id=”1747″]
To your success,
Thank you for this blog. I’ve recently been delving into myself as my brand and these are some great tips.
Thanks Jay, glad you enjoyed it.