Creating a personal brand can be mythical and daunting, and one of the easiest ways to get lost is not knowing where to start. Even Oprah Winfrey went through several style iterations on small local shows before becoming one of the most influential brands in the world.
Most people have brands but do not know how to make the brands work in their favour. You probably belong to the category of people who think logos, slogans, celebrities, and influencers are what define their brand. However, your brand is what individuals visualize when they see your photo online or hear your voice. If you actively work towards establishing your brand, it becomes a valuable tool and helps you achieve your goals.
What is a personal brand?
A personal brand is a way for people to know what you are about; your vision, mission, and ethos in your professional world. Your brand is the story that is told when you are not in the room. Think of high-profile individuals like Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey with personal brands. The two have established an identity in the public world, enabling others to have some level of understanding of who they are.
When you build your brand intentionally, you shape how your story is told, establish yourself as an expert in your industry, and connect with your clients beyond your products and services.
Steps to think about when building your personal brand
Here are some steps to guide you if you are wondering where to start when creating your personal brand.
Figure out who you are
Your personal brand should reflect your identity, aspirations, and skills. You should know what makes you authentic and unique and your strengths and weaknesses. Having this information will make your clients, investors, and business partners take you seriously because it helps define your personal brand’s vision, message, story, and worth.
You can start by asking yourself:
- What are your core values?
- What drives you?
- What is your passion?
- What areas do you excel in?
- What makes you different and better than others?
- What settings do you work best in?
- How do you want to influence your audience?
- What industries do you find most appealing?
- How do you want to deliver your message?
- What things drain your energy?
Determine your value proposition
Leveraging your uniqueness is critical when building a personal brand. This is because it will be difficult to make your brand personal when you are similar to everyone else. People remember individuals who stand out, and that is where your unique value proposition comes in. Jack Trout, in his book ‘Differentiate or Die,’ states that you can only differentiate yourself by marketing your product’s unique value propositions.
When defining your value proposition, always remember to:
- Understand your strengths- Ask yourself about areas you have excelled in the past and compliments you have received about your talents. Identifying what you do best that anyone else does help you create your unique value proposition foundation.
- Talk about your strengths- By taking stock, sharing, and highlighting your expertise and achievements. You are building a brand around them. This helps create trust; therefore, if an employer or client considers you, they can tell from your brand that you’re the perfect person to bring on board.
There are instances where you may identify your strengths but experience difficulties making them your value propositions.
In such a case, you should consider the following:
- Make your answer specific by thinking about instances where your skills or hard work paid off. What made you stand out from others with similar skills? What aspect of yourself came out to make the scenario a success?
- Determine how this uniqueness will help you thrive. This is because no matter how good your strengths are, they will be no help if they aren’t used.
- Talk about your personality. Remember, while hard work pays, not all hardworking people are outgoing, agreeable, and fun-loving. Combining your personality traits with your skills will help you stand out from competitors.
Define your audience
One common mistake many people make is trying to impress the masses. When building your brand, it is important to identify your niche and work on impressing your target audience. To start this, identify organizations, individuals, and groups that interest you and figure out how your unique approach can impact them.
If you are starting a business, your brand should be well-aligned with your business. If you intend to create a brand to further your career, it should align with your work area.
Develop your online presence
People will want to read your story to determine what they feel about your brand. Unfortunately, they can not do that at a library. In the modern world, brands require an online presence that is constantly updated on their websites and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Here are some reasons why having an online presence is crucial for your brand.
- You can create an about me page highlighting your interests, education, and aspirations.
- Describe your past experiences and relevant accomplishments.
- Reveal your value propositions.
- Display customer testimonials for your product and services.
- Share real-world photos and logos.
- Create a distinct call-to-action for various calls.
- Interact with visitors on your site and socials.
Remember, there are millions of websites and social media accounts existing today. Therefore, your online presence should be as outstanding as your website and social media platforms.
Develop your content strategy
Use your website and social media platforms to publish relevant and meaningful content. Showcase your expertise through high-ranking blogs and high-quality videos and infographics. Encourage your audience to give feedback and interact with them to know their opinions. Remember, offering valuable and meaningful content helps showcase your unique perspectives and knowledge, which your investors and clients need to taste before giving you all their trust.
Ensure your content is branded and share it across various platforms for visibility. One important aspect of personal branding is creating a community of like-minded individuals and relevant businesses. You can build a community by joining Facebook and LinkedIn groups, attending meetups, and organizing and attending webinars.
Bottom line
Building a personal brand may seem daunting and a lot of work, but the payoff is enormous when done correctly. Creating an online presence is half the battle. You will need to create valuable content consistently and manage your public perception. Personal brands help you build a network of professionals who value you and think of you first when an opportunity arises.