Empower PH | 7 Easy Things You Can Do Today To Improve Your Personal Brand | by Rover Jones | The birth of a company comes hand in hand with the birthing of a personal brand. It doesn’t really matter if you have begun working on improving your brand before or are still thinking about it. Looking at most large companies, there is a trend that suggests that to succeed you need a larger-than-life brand.
What is personal branding and why it is important? Personal branding is the process of creating and promoting your own unique brand in the marketplace. It’s about differentiating yourself from the competition and standing out in the minds of your target audience.
Why is personal branding important? In today’s competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to create a strong personal brand that will make you stand out from the crowd. With so many people competing for the same jobs, it’s important to have a strong personal brand that will make you stand out from the rest. But how do you get there? Here is how:
1. Get in the Mindset that You ARE a Brand
When getting into this mindset, consider Apple. When you think of Apple, what do you think of it? What do you want people to think when they hear your company name?
Do you want them to think of futuristic technology or do you want them to think of a homely carpet store? Once you got that in mind, you know how to market yourself well.
2. Track Your Online Presence
Assess your current personal brand. The first step in creating a strong personal brand is to assess your current personal brand. This involves taking a close look at how you are currently perceived by others.
Google yourself. From the results you get, you can build. Set alerts that tell you when your name is beginning to pop up more often, perhaps you could Google yourself twice a day in order to check up on it.
The more your name pops up, the more people are going to see you. (*Disclaimer*: If you have a common name, add your middle initial or your full middle name to differentiate yourself.)
Film brand journeys. Brand journey videos educate potential customers on how to buy your products or services, eliminating guesswork. It shows how you work, so use it to your advantage. Show client results or finished products. Help them realize your company’s benefits. This will establish familiarity and comfort before they contact you. If you can show that in a brand journey film, people will understand and want to work with you
3. Make a Personal Website
Your website doesn’t have to have complex moving parts, it can be as simple as a resume and a short bio. Although the more professional your website is, the more likely it is to attract viewers, just having a website is a huge step toward success.
What other way will people be able to discover your company?
Develop your personal brand strategy. Once you have a good understanding of your current personal brand, you can start to develop a personal brand strategy. This involves defining your goals and objectives and determining the best way to achieve them.
Your personal brand strategy should be aligned with your overall career goals. For example, if you’re looking to move into a management position, your personal brand strategy should focus on positioning yourself as a leader in your field.
4. Find Ways to Produce Value
Have you ever had a situation in which you noticed someone from a large company tweeting about something totally unrelated to them? It probably makes you think, “Boy, I wonder why he felt the need to let us know that he really enjoyed his Campbell’s Chicken soup today.” Stay in line with your brand, which will in turn create more value.
Don’t post just whatever you are thinking or feeling, post about different technologies if you are a tech company.
Create video reviews. Video reviews are more powerful than written reviews or testimonies in today’s environment. As people describe their interaction with your business, what happened, and how they felt, viewers may see a real person behind the words.
If someone records a video review saying, “I wasn’t sure if I should use Business X’s products or services, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” others will think highly of you. Video reviews reveal what results in your brand can achieve for customers.
Network with purpose. Networking is a great way to promote your personal brand. It allows you to meet new people and make new connections.
When networking, focus on meeting people who can help you achieve your goals. For example, if you’re looking to move into a management position, try to meet people who work in management.
5. Think Before You Post
Don’t post random things on your Twitter or Instagram. The people who follow your company are not interested in your life or what you did that day. Don’t post too liberally, and definitely don’t over-post.
Try to stay professional and adult when you post, and don’t divulge anyone who comments something mean by responding to them.
Create or update your personal brand materials. Once you have developed your personal brand strategy, it’s time to start creating or updating your personal brand materials. This can include your resume, cover letter, online profiles, and social media accounts.
Make sure your personal brand materials are consistent with your personal brand strategy. For example, if you’re trying to position yourself as an expert in your field, make sure your resume and online profiles reflect this.
6. Become Friends with Other Brands
What college did you attend? Are any other alumni also in business? Are they successful? If you can answer yes to those three questions, you got a beautiful start. Join groups, find alumni from your college, and branch out.
The more powerful allies you can associate with, the better off your company will wind up being.
Get active on social media. Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your personal brand. It allows you to reach a large audience quickly and easily.
Make sure your social media profiles are consistent with your personal brand. For example, if you’re trying to position yourself as an expert in your field, make sure your profile reflects this.
7. Reinvent and Tell a Story
What is your story? How did you get to where you are now, and why did you begin your company? These are all important questions that will better your personal brand.
Having an inspirational story will help to inspire those who are investing in the company and will also do wonders in getting your name out there. Not only that, but you should always evolve. Never stay in one place, always make progress and reinvent.
Show product videos. Create videos showcasing your products and services. Show how your products and services work and what they do. Use a smartphone or digital camera to engage potential clients. I once mentored a recruitment organization whose dull job descriptions weren’t attracting the proper candidates. I told them to present the jobs they were recruiting for on video, telling people why the job is wonderful and about the organization. Simple things improved their performance.
Conclusion
It’s your brand. It’s a continuing project, so you can constantly improve and add to it. Your brand affects the rest of your business, therefore strengthening it should be a primary concern.
SEO and Google reviews can boost your company’s brand. Most businesses are found through Google, and people prefer to read the evaluations, so you need compelling reasons why people should deal with you. Encourage your clients to publish good Google reviews. Identify your business’s most important keywords and phrases to enhance organic reach and backlinks. Consider paid search ads together with organic methods. SEO helps visitors locate your website and tell the right story about your business.
Continuously measure and adjust your personal brand. Personal branding is an ongoing process. It’s important to continuously measure and adjust your personal brand to ensure it’s upwardly value.
