Brands aren’t just for products anymore. Thanks to social media, online forums and blogs, just about anyone can create his or her own personal brand.
Regardless of where you are in your career, you have a story to tell and talent to share. Make sure your brand reflects that with these six tips:
1. Who do you think you are? Branding yourself begins with self-reflection. Take stock of your strengths. What are your best attributes? What positive adjectives might a colleague use to describe you? Is there one particular talent or discipline in which you truly shine? What’s your personality? If you’re just beginning your career, choose a area of focus that truly interests you. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Hard-working, focused and reserved people get ahead just as often as social butterflies.
2. What are people saying about you? To get a handle on the current state of your brand, Google yourself and see what pops up. Does your online presence communicate the brand you want? If not, take steps to change that. Start by refreshing some of your social profiles. Try joining some interest groups and become an active participant. Ask questions and initiate discussions. Volunteer your own ideas and expertise when others post questions.
3. Imitation is flattery. Now that you have a better grip on your brand, check out the brand presence of some colleagues you admire. What sets them apart? How do they go about letting others know about their talents? What skills can you use to help polish your own image?
4. Maintain your integrity on- and off-line. High standards of honesty are important, especially today when your digital reputation can either be improved or destroyed in a matter of minutes. Avoid using deceptive marketing tactics and tricks, and always correct any misunderstandings with your customers. If you want to attract brand loyalists, treat your customers the way you would want to be treated. More often than not, you would want to be valued, appreciated, and taken care of too.
5. Guest posting: There are tons of sites out there that take guest posts as blogs, articles, photos, and more. On sites that accept articles, you can set up an account and post articles you have written that relate to your field and have them credited and linked back to you. You can link them to your website, drawing in traffic since you’ve now created backlinks to your new brand site and you’ll quickly build yourself as an expert.
6. Manage your reputation. Privacy is practically nonexistent in the age of Facebook. When branding yourself personally and professionally, assume that anything you post may be viewed by the masses. While you want to showcase yourself as knowledgeable, interesting and fun to work with, be sure to use good judgment. If there’s anything out there you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see, delete it now. Remember, your reputation is your best asset.
Branding yourself can greatly help in building your business. Not only does it help potential customers identify with you, but it allows current customers to talk about you. Through branding, you will learn more about yourself and have the ability to develop a professional and lasting relationship with your customers
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