Posted on December 23, 2020 by Archan Trivedi
Our world requires us to present ourselves with confidence. Whether or not we realize it, we are creating a personal brand somewhere that defines us. It also pictures us to the wider public of who we are, where we have been and where we are going.
Personal branding of an individual is crucial to establish his/her industry presence. In a business brand you are selling or marketing a product, whereas, in a personal brand you sell yourself. A personal brand helps you in differentiating yourself from the competition in the market. A good personal branding effort elevates your credibility that can lead to massive opportunities for career advancements. Personal branding is the practice of marketing individuals and their careers as brands.
Who are you? And why should we trust you?
You must have heard this question often. Your personal brand serves as your best protection against such factors that are beyond your control. Your personal brand works as a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability.
Is personal branding only for entrepreneurs? – NO, it is for everyone out there!!!
Traditionally branding has been discussed only in terms of business, products and everything related to entrepreneurs. However, in today’s world, personal branding is not limited to only C-Suite executives or entrepreneurs. Students, teachers, mentors, coaches, employers, professionals – technically everyone can build their personal brand. It is of paramount importance in today’s world.
Anyone can build a sound online reputation by focusing on creating a personal brand. If you want to land a job nowadays, personal branding is particularly important as the workforce embraces creativity and individualism, and branding allows you to show the unique value that you bring to the table. If you are an employee, building your professional brand can be one of the smartest choices you make as companies will see even more value in hiring you, and if you are already working for a company, building your professional brand can put you in a strong position for growth and promotion within the company. So, developing a personal brand may be a good way to indicate potential employers that you have worked hard to create and build a positive reputation online.
Some important steps to be considered for building your personal brand –
- Discover the purpose behind your brand – identify your differentiated value proposition!
- Research competitive individuals within your industry
- Determine your personal brand’s target audiences
- Establish a personal brand mission statement
- Grow your online presence and keep networking
Personal branding is all about how you portray your story, experiences, and expertise so that people can form a positive conception about you. Communicate your story in an authentic and valuable manner so as to build trust with your target audiences and gain reliability within your industry. Crafting a personal brand can be a daunting task, and one of the easiest ways to get lost in the process in not knowing where to start. Consider getting some expert level help on this. There are professionals out there who can help you create a robust social media profile; in the same manner a resume writer helps you write your resume that stands out. Developing a personal brand definitely consumes a lot of time and effort, as it is not going to get built overnight. But once you do it, the profits are endless.
