How to Build a Personal Brand

How to Build a Personal Brand

Personal Branding November 22, 2019

How to Build a Personal Brand

Self-Branding and Career Growth

​Your personal brand is no longer something to be taken lightly if you want to be taken seriously in business. This is to outline the value of personal branding, identifying your brand, and promoting your brand for career growth.

The Value of Personal Branding

• Learn to be a free agent. Your name is your brand. When others think of you, they think of your name first, even if you change jobs often. When your name is your brand, it follows you everywhere you go. 

1. Know your objective. Your action plans, goals, and priorities will all depend on your objective. A brand will help you establish goals, priorities, and action plans. When you know what your objective is, you will be able to perform your daily tasks while you won’t lose sight of the big picture.

•  ​Find a way to make a difference. Blowing your own horn is easy, but there is a fine line between self-branding and being too vain or too self-centered. Remember, your personal brand becomes effective and will remain in people’s memory if and when it benefits them. You should remember that being in service to others is the entire idea. That’s the only way it will work. 

How to Create a Personal Brand

• Take an inventory. Take a good look at yourself. Write out your strengths and weaknesses. Identify your passions. Think about what you’re good at and what you like to do.

1. Distinguish yourself from your colleagues. There are plenty of talented and dependable people in every field. Pinpoint your unique selling point. Maybe you’re a gas station owner who maintains the cleanest bathrooms in town.

• Talk about benefits. Let your target audience know what you can do for them. Explain how you can boost profits by increasing sales or saving money.

1. Summarize your mission in 10 seconds or less. Be prepared to capture people’s attention quickly. Let them know what you do in 15 words or less. You can tell you’re on the right track when they ask for more details.

• Ask for feedback. Survey your family, friends, customers, and colleagues to find out what they think of you and your abilities. Show your appreciation for constructive criticism so they’ll keep sharing it with you.

1. Stay updated. Review your personal mission statement every six months. Make new action plans so you’re always getting closer to your goals.

​Marketing Your Personal Brand

Increase your visibility. Post fresh content on your website or blog regularly. Stay active on social media. Look for opportunities to teach classes, give presentations, or write articles in your field.
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1. Build buzz. Collect samples of positive feedback you get in the workplace. Assemble testimonials from happy clients and encourage them to make referrals. Word of mouth is often more effective and certainly cheaper than paid advertising.

1. Tell your success stories. Craft brief anecdotes about your accomplishments that showcase your skills and make you proud. Rehearse telling them so you sound natural.

• Monetize your contribution. Numbers sound convincing. Try to quantify the value you can deliver. For example, if you’re pitching your IT services to a small business owner, discuss how much money they can save by signing up with you for monthly maintenance visits that reduce the risk of expensive repairs and downtime.  

1. Put together a dream team. It’s difficult to go it alone. Cultivate your network. Help others  market their brand, and they’re more likely to do the same for you. Team up with complementary partners. Exchange services like cooking meals for a friend who cuts your hair.

Final Thought

Branding used to be for cattle and big corporations, but now everyone is in on the act. Take charge of your personal brand to achieve more career success and guide your life in a direction that is meaningful for you.

Source: https://www.market-connections.net/blog/how-to-build-a-personal-brand

About the Author

Mandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes.
 
Feel free to connect with Mandy Fard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandyfard/
 
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