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Personal Branding

Strategies for Building a Personal Brand

min read

Dec 25, 2023

Social Media Marketing

Personal Brandiung

Living Your Personal Brand

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. One of the ways you can make building a personal brand difficult on yourself is to separate your brand from your personal life. While certainly doable, it’s easier when initially creating a personal brand to have your actual lifestyle and brand be one and the same. Personal branding integrates your lifestyle with your career identity, forming a unique representation of who you are both personally and professionally. This approach resonates well in the professional world, where authenticity and individuality are highly valued. By aligning your personal life with your brand, you create a cohesive and genuine image. This strategy is particularly effective when starting a personal brand, as it allows for a seamless blend of your personal interests and professional aspirations. The essence of personal branding is not limited to your job roles but extends to your personal values and ideals such as community involvement, leadership, and mentorship.

PR for Personal Branding

The best PR is by word of mouth. Creating a personal brand in the public sphere is no exception to this rule. Effective personal branding often relies on organic, word-of-mouth promotion. Sharing your story in a memorable way, like using engaging videos or unique visual elements, helps create a lasting impression. Your personal brand is essentially the narrative others construct about you in your absence. It's crucial to manage this narrative through consistent, genuine actions and communications. Building a reputation based on integrity and authenticity is key, as your name and the legacy you build are your most valuable assets.

Building strong relationships with peers, mentors, and industry leaders will amplify your personal brand's reach. When these connections share their experiences and interactions with you, it adds credibility and extends your influence beyond your immediate circle. These interactions not only reinforce your personal brand but also encourage others to talk about you and your work in a positive light. Additionally, staying consistent in your messaging across different platforms and ensuring your actions align with your identity is critical. This consistency helps in forming a coherent and reliable image of your brand, making it easier for others to understand, relate to, and advocate for you.

LinkedIn Optimization

LinkedIn optimization is a crucial component for anyone looking to advance their professional presence online. This entails more than just filling out your profile with basic information; it involves strategic planning and ongoing management to maximize visibility and engagement. Elements such as a professional headshot, a compelling headline, and a well-crafted summary are foundational. Keywords relevant to your industry should be woven throughout your profile, including your skills, endorsements, and experience sections, to improve your discoverability in search results.

Regularly updating your status, sharing valuable content, and engaging with your network also boost your profile's visibility. Furthermore, recommendations and endorsements can serve as social proof of your skills and expertise, enhancing your credibility. By dedicating time to optimize your LinkedIn profile, you not only increase your chances of connecting with the right people but also position yourself as an authority in your field.

Create an Elevator Pitch

As you begin to conceptualize your personal brand, spend some time crafting an elevator pitch—a 30 to 60-second story about who you are. Whether you’re attending a networking event or an informal party, having an elevator pitch prepared makes it easy to describe succinctly what you do and where you’re going (or would like to go) in your career. Developing a concise elevator pitch is a fundamental aspect of personal branding.

This brief narrative should effectively communicate your professional identity and goals. It's an essential tool for networking, enabling you to succinctly convey your career aspirations, unique skills, and recent achievements. Keep your elevator pitch brief by focusing on a few key points you want to emphasize. This could include that you’re looking for a new position, have strengths in a particular niche, or recently increased the value of your current department or company. Keep it focused and engaging to make a lasting impression in a short time.

Industry Networking

As you cultivate your ideal personal brand, it’s important to network regularly (and effectively) to grow your professional circle. Networking is crucial for brand development and career advancement. Connect with peers and industry thought-leaders by going to formal and informal networking events. Offer value in your interactions to make your personal brand memorable. With a majority of jobs being secured through networking, these connections are not only valuable for brand building but also for career progression.

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. And, considering 85 percent of all jobs are filled through networking, regularly attending these events will help you not only build your brand, but potentially advance your career, too. At these events, don’t be shy about asking fellow attendees to meet again for an informational interview or a casual coffee chat. And remember, if you don’t get a chance to connect at the event, reach out via email or LinkedIn to spark a conversation. Be proactive in following up with new contacts for further discussions or meetings.

Ask for Recommendations

Soliciting recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients is a highly effective strategy in building and strengthening your personal brand. These endorsements serve as powerful and credible testimonials to your professional capabilities, work ethic, and accomplishments. They provide an external perspective on your performance and character, which can be incredibly persuasive to potential employers, clients, or collaborators.

When seeking recommendations, the outcome will look much better with a thoughtful approach. Start by choosing the right people to provide endorsements—those who have worked closely with you and can authentically attest to your skills, contributions, and work style, such as past or present supervisors, colleagues, clients, or mentors. Be specific in your request, guiding your referees to focus on particular aspects of your work or character, like creativity, problem-solving skills, or leadership. Providing context is also crucial; remind them of specific projects or accomplishments you've worked on together to add depth and relevance to their recommendation. To facilitate the process, you can consider drafting a preliminary version of the recommendation for them to edit, especially if they are constrained by time.

Follow Current Trends

Staying current with trends is a critical component of maintaining an effective personal brand. In today’s fast-paced world, trends can shape public perception and influence engagement. To ensure your brand remains relevant and appealing, it's vital to observe and analyze the strategies used by influential figures and celebrities. These individuals often set the tone for what's current and popular, providing a valuable roadmap for effective self-marketing. By embracing creativity and innovation in the way you apply these trends to your brand, you can differentiate yourself while still resonating with the zeitgeist.

Additionally, adapting to new trends requires a balance between staying true to your core brand values and being flexible enough to evolve with the times. It’s important to filter trends through the lens of your personal brand identity to ensure they complement rather than overshadow your unique value proposition. Regularly reviewing and updating your branding strategy in light of new trends is also important. This might involve updating your social media content strategy, or even experimenting with new forms of content like podcasts or live video. The goal is not to chase every trend, but to thoughtfully select those that best align with your brand and will effectively engage your audience.

Expanding Reach

In the digital age, having a dedicated website for your personal brand is an invaluable asset. A website acts as a centralized platform where you can comprehensively showcase your professional journey, achievements, and insights. It's a space entirely under your control, free from the constraints and distractions of social media platforms. On your website, include sections that reflect your personal brand, such as a professional blog, a portfolio of your work, client testimonials, and a detailed bio. This not only enhances your online presence but also provides a more nuanced and controlled narrative of your personal brand. Your website can also host your contact information and links to your social media profiles, acting as a hub for your entire online presence.

Additionally, establishing a presence on other platforms can significantly expand your reach and audience. While mainstream platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram are crucial, being an early adopter of emerging platforms can position you as a forward-thinking and adaptable professional. Each platform offers unique features and audiences, allowing for diverse methods of engaging with your network and showcasing different facets of your personal brand. For example, video content platforms like TikTok and YouTube can be used for sharing industry insights in a more engaging format, while professional forums or communities can be leveraged for deeper discussions and networking. Diversifying your online presence not only broadens your reach but also opens up new opportunities for collaboration, learning, and professional growth. Remember, the key to success on any platform is to maintain consistency in your messaging and authenticity in your interactions.