In the past few years, as the job market has become more and more competitive, the idea of personal branding has grown.
But What Exactly is a “Personal Brand”?
Basically, it’s a way for people to find out who you are, what you stand for, and what you want to do in the business world. We all know famous people who have their own brands.
Think of people like Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, and different politicians and public figures. They have all made a name for themselves in the public eye. This is called their “personal brand,” and it helps people understand what kind of people they are.
But beyond the hype, it’s important to think about branding yourself in a professional setting. Because the internet is so widespread and social networking sites are growing, any professional who uses the internet or networking sites must shape and manage their personal brand.
Why is Building Your Personal Brand Important?
Your personal brand is important because it is a representation of you that others see when they look for you online. It is also the image you choose to show when you talk to people in person.
Whether we know it or not, everything we do online, like on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites, makes up an online profile that can be searched.
Employers and recruiters now use the internet to do background checks on potential employees and get a sense of who they are and what they are interested in. 57% of employers are less likely to interview a candidate they can’t find online, which is an interesting fact.
So, making a personal brand gives you a say in how you market yourself and gives you the power to create an accurate picture of who you are, instead of just letting it happen by accident.
Even though social networking sites are mostly about interacting with other people, you should look at them as places where you can easily start building your own brand.
How to Build a Personal Brand?
Your personal brand needs to be built in a way that makes it easy to talk about online, as well as easy to say out loud and show through actions and behaviors.
Because you will “live and breathe” your personal brand, it’s important that it’s true to who you are and shows that.
Follow these steps to make a name for yourself:
1. Figure Out What You’re Passionate About
Your personal brand should match and show what you like and care about. What do you want to do, and what traits and qualities show that you are passionate about it? If you want to be a paid speaker, you should market yourself as someone who is good at public speaking and has goals in your field.
2. Grow Your Social Footprint
On social networking sites, make profiles that show what you’re interested in. It is important to make the most of your LinkedIn profile to show off your interests, skills, and goals. If you use Facebook and Twitter, make sure that your profile and the information you share there match the tone and message of your personal brand as a whole.
3. Make a Plan for Yourself
What will you do with your own brand? Just like a business or corporate brand has plans, goals, and targets, you should make a plan for your own growth that helps your personal brand and builds it up. Start making connections, making decisions, and making plans for your career that fit with your brand.
4. Tell a Story
One of the best ways to build a strong personal brand is by telling a story. It’s easy to say who you are and what you do for a living, but if you describe yourself in a boring way, you won’t be able to stand out from the crowd.
Think about what makes your story special. Did you get to where you are today in an unusual way? Has your job taken any interesting turns? How have your life experiences changed the career choices you’ve made? Your personal brand will be more interesting the more color you can add to your story.
Creating a personal brand is especially important if you want to get a pay raise or change jobs or careers.
By making a brand for yourself, you can get a better idea of what you want to achieve and how you need to be seen to get there. Then, you can market those qualities to your target audience.
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