The Power of Personal Branding: Why It Matters and How To Get Started
Personal branding has become the key to creating a lasting impression on potential clients, customers, employers and business partners. Building a strong personal brand can help you stand out from the crowd, showcase your unique strengths and abilities, and establish yourself as a noticeable figure in your field.
What is personal branding?
Personal branding is the process of creating a unique identity yourself, based on your personality, values, skills and experiences. It is about telling people who you are and what makes you different from other professionals in your area of expertise.
The power of personal branding lies in your ability to build trust and familiarity by sharing your authentic self with your audience. Consistency is crucial for your audience to remember who you are. Your audience is more likely to engage with you and recommend you to others when you are on top of mind, which could ultimately lead to more clients, more job opportunities and more success.
Creating a personal brand is a daunting task, so we’ve compiled a list of 5 tips to help you build a powerful and successful personal brand:
1. Determine what makes you different: By identifying your personal strengths, unique skills and personal and professional experiences that make you stand out, you can use them to define a brand message that suits you. By writing down a list of these items, you will then be able to craft a brand message that reflects your personality and is clear, concise and memorable for your audience.
2. Figure out what you would like to be known for and establish your brand’s personality and image: Your personal brand is not necessarily defining the person you are, it can also be the person you aspire to be. George Bernhard Shaw once said, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” So, who do you want to be? Setting measurable goals for yourself and keeping up with your brand will keep you motivated and on the right path. By establishing consistent wording, imagery and brand colours, you will continue to make yourself more recognizable to your audience.
3. Create or develop your online presence: Generating a memorable online presence is important in today’s digital world. Your personal brand should include not only a personal website or a blog, but a social media presence as well. There are many social media outlets where you can build your brand, however the number one tool for professionals and those looking to sell B2B is LinkedIn. If you plan to be in the news or enjoy a lively discussion, Twitter may also be for you. If you are more creative and looking to sell B2C, you can try Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat. The goal is to be engaging and create content that people want to remember, save and share.
4. Be you: Don’t get caught up in trying to be who you think others want you to be. Be open, be truthful, and be confident in yourself. Your brand should reflect who you are online, as well as in person. Remember that your brand values should be what defines you and sets you apart from others. Your values are a reflection of who you are and it’s important to stand behind them and stay true to yourself in order to build trust and respect among your audience.
5. Always be elevating: Whether it’s attending networking events or doing research on experts whose brands you admire, you should be consistently growing, learning and gaining new experiences. Staying relevant and incorporating your personal brand into all aspects of your life will ultimately make keeping up with your brand that much more accomplishable
Building a personal brand is a continuous process that takes time and effort. If you are looking to further yourself in your business or career, it’s not enough to have a good product or the right skills and qualifications. Personal branding allows you to take control over your career and image by differentiating yourself, building credibility, and making yourself visible, while continuing to be your authentic self.
