What comes into your mind when you hear the word ‘’personal brand’’? Your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room! A strong brand stands out in the crowd and gains more sales, increased awareness, and better customer experiences as a result. But ‘branding’ isn’t just for companies. Professionals each have their own story to tell and goals, skills, and expertise to share. In today’s increasingly digital world, a personal brand is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s expected. Here are a few suggestions: 1. FIGURE OUT WHO YOU ARE In order to build a personal brand that accurately reflects your personal and professional identity, you first need to know who you are. Create a list of your personal strengths and weaknesses. Ask yourself what motivates you, what areas do you excel, which roles seem to drain your energy etc. If you’re struggling to answer these questions, ask friends, family, and co workers how they would describe you. Once you’re more aware of the different facets of your personality, you can decide how best to brand them. 2. DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE Before you start crafting your personal brand, you need to determine who you’re trying to reach. Is it other industry thought leaders? An individual at a particular company? Recruiters? The sooner you define the audience, the easier it will be to craft your story, because you’ll better understand the type of story you need to tell (and where you need to tell it.) 3. EMBRACE NETWORKING As you cultivate your ideal personal brand, it’s important to network regularly and effectively to grow your professional circle. Connect with peers and industry thought-leaders by going to formal and informal networking events. The more connections you make and the more value you can provide in your interactions, the more likely it is your personal brand will be recognized. 4. REINVENT YOUR PERSONAL BRAND AS YOU GROW As the digital ecosystem changes and your career evolves, so will your personal brand. Adjust your persona accordingly as you meet different people, find new networking opportunities, and grow in your career. As long as it reflects your professional life, don’t hesitate to create a brand that lets you shine. SUMMARY Your personal brand matters because it is what people remember about you and if you’re in business, it’s why they decide to work with you (or not). The truth is, if you want to build a visible and profitable business, you’re going to need a strong personal brand. |