Many people think that branding is just for companies or celebrities. But each of us has our own personal brand, whether we realize it or not.
The term “personal branding” was first mentioned in an article by Tom Peters http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/10/brandyou.html more than 10 years ago. By definition, personal branding is the process by which we market ourselves to others. It’s the complete package comprised of many parts – body language, posture, clothes, accessories, facial expression, communication skills, and reputation.
With the advent of social media, it’s easier than ever to build or damage your personal brand. Here are a few simple tips to discovering and creating your personal brand.
Discovering Your Brand
The first step in creating your personal brand is doing an in-depth analysis of you – this really isn’t as scary as it sounds. While some of us are self-aware (or think we are), others may struggle in this area. Here are a few questions to ask yourself or those close to you:
- How do friends, family and co-workers typically describe you and what characteristics do they attribute to you – funny, honest, classy, professional, laid back, serious, creative?
- Do those characteristics align with the image you hold of yourself? If not, why not?
- How do you want people to describe you?
- What do you need to do to achieve the image you want?
For example, if you want to be viewed as “classy,” does your appearance, actions and reputation support that claim? Personal branding really is about creating a niche for yourself and living it.
The key to developing a successful personal brand is authenticity and self-awareness. Be your real self, but make an even better impression.
Creating Your Brand
Once you’ve spent some time thinking about your personal brand, put it to paper. Write your own personal mission, vision and brand statement. Make sure you also set some specific goals and a plan for achieving them. Some basic tools for marketing your personal brand include:
- Wardrobe/accessories
- Blog/website
- Social media profiles – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
- Resume/cover letter/references
- Portfolio
- Business Card and V Card
- Personal presentation
There are many tips on how to successfully use each of these tools, but keep in mind the basics. Does your appearance in person and online through photos match your personal brand statement? Are you writing in a tone (funny, serious, sarcastic) that showcases who you are? For example, if you want to be viewed as professional and sophisticated, do you have pictures on your Facebook page that support that image or do you have photos and comments from a party you’d rather forget?
Get Started Today
Spend a few minutes thinking about your personal brand and how you want to be perceived. For more specific tips, check back at westmorelandflint.com in late April for a complete presentation on personal branding.
