How to Build a Successful Personal Brand in 15 Easy Steps

I have put together a first-rate email course about personal branding called Define You Brand. This course includes workbook, video and a PowerPoint presentation on personal branding (this article was based on that presentation).

If this topic is important to you, I suggest you check out this FREE course (get the free course here). 

15 Steps to Personal Brand Success

Before talking about the how of personal branding, it’s essential to talk about why it’s essential for your business and your life.

Developing your personal brand will help you:

• Grow your company.
• Drive your career.
• Open up partnerships and new opportunities you never thought of before.
• Shorten sales cycles. Minimize selling your services (since you will be the trusted expert).
• Become more fulfilled with life.

I can speak firsthand about this. It was just a few years ago that I was at the short end of all the areas above. Then, by focusing on a niche and setting tactics (we’ll talk about this in a second), the last few years have been amazing: A published book, a growing online business and never a shortage of partnership or new business opportunities.

Are you in?

Look, it’s not that easy, but there is a formula to this that has worked for me, and it can work for you as well.

First, the basics.

• Commit to doing something and doing it consistently.
• Focus on what makes you unique.
• Demonstrate lethal generosity (Give away valuable information all the time. Think of yourself as the publisher.).
• Then do things that make people want to spread your message.

NOTE: Most importantly, pick a niche. What area of information can you be an expert in? The smaller the better at the start. For example, my expertise is content marketing. Some will be experts in pet attire, others in nanotechnology. Pick one and go.

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Here are 15 tips that will make the difference for your personal branding quest.

1. Update Your Online Profiles. Be sure they tell your story of why you are unique. Focus especially on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and your Google Profile. Plaxo, TripIt and FriendFeed may also be an option.
2. Buy Your Domain (http://myname.com). This is the place where you can control your message about who you are.
3. Business Card Process. If you get a business card, make it a habit of getting those people into your online networks.
4. Professional Picture. No-one wants to see you getting sick at a party last week as your Facebook image. Get a professional photographer to take your picture and be consistent in using it throughout your online profiles.
5. Start a Blog. Take your expert topic and consistently deliver valuable, relevant and compelling information through this tool.
6. Comment on other Blogs. In your niche, what are the top 10-15 influential blogs? Read and comment on those blogs consistently.
7. Write a Book. I’m not kidding. A book is still the best business card around. If you are the expert in your niche, you need to write a book.
8. Deliver BIG Content. eBooks, enewsletters, white papers, research reports and industry rankings. Pick two or three and publish, publish, publish.
9. Find Distribution Channels. PowerPoint presentations should go on SlideShare or Scribd. Blog content should be distributed via Twitter and Facebook.
10. Respond to Those Who Talk about You.  Monitor Twitter Search and Google Alerts for mentions of you.  Be sure to comment on those blogs.
11. Accept Guest Writing Spots. If it’s in your niche and people want you to write an article, the answer is YES. Always yes.
12. Pick Two Associations and Get Active. You can’t be involved in every association, but pick two and be VERY active. Work to get on the board.
13. Speak, Speak, Speak. Speaking in public takes the previous 12 points to the next level. If you don’t feel you have what it takes, join your local Toastmasters.
14. Always Be Helping. If someone asks for your help, do your best to give it. Pay it Forward really works in today’s gift economy.
15. Get Behind a Charity/Cause. This can’t just be about you. Find a cause that truly makes a difference in this world and give 100%.

Anyone, and I mean anyone, who follows these 15 points, will see a dramatic difference in your life and career in just six months. Find your niche, and go get ‘em.