Branding is a powerful tool, and it is important as it helps distinguish a product, service or company from its competitors, builds trust, creates emotional connections and fosters loyalty. Branding is not just important for products, services and companies it is important to people. This is called personal branding, and it is increasingly becoming important, especially in the professional industry.
But what exactly is personal branding? What are the benefits? And how can one achieve success when implementing this strategy?
What is Personal Branding?
Personal Branding is how one presents and promotes themselves to others, to establish a strategically crafted perception about who they are, both online and offline. It’s about building what people think of when they hear their name, do they think of their unique skills? Their expertise? Their personality and values? Their ethics?
Building a strong personal brand is important if you want to build a career or a business and want to stand out within your industry. This doesn’t have to be done just through LinkedIn, you can build a personal brand on other social media platforms, through a blog or a website, one-on-one networking etc.
Personal Branding in Action
Numerous individuals have successfully leveraged personal branding to propel their careers forward.
Elon Musk
Elon has developed a strong personal brand and is known for being an innovative, risk-taking person who is constantly in pursuit of futuristic visions. His ventures include SpaceX, Tesla and Neuralink. When you think of someone with ambitious goals you think of Elon Musk, he has built his personal brand to reflect the big goals and out-there ideas like colonising Mars. He is also a present voice on social media, often posting bold statements that aren’t often received well, but these ‘bad’ takes keep him in the public eye even if they aren’t popular opinions.
Sophie Miller
Sophie is an individual who has built a strong personal brand, she has done this by creating engaging and educational content that resonates and interests the audience she has cultivated. Sophies own page has 168K + followers and her company page Pretty Little Marketer has 217K + followers, her reach is vast, and she is a voice that people listen to and engage with. Her personal brand feels authentic, trustworthy and relatable to her target audience.
Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary also known as GaryVee has perfectly crafted his personal brand to be intertwined with his entrepreneurial spirit, hustle culture and his understanding of digital marketing. He has a large presence across various social media platforms, his largest being Instagram at 10.1 million followed by 6.4 million on Facebook and 5.4 million on LinkedIn. GaryVee shares content on his platforms with insights into entrepreneurship adventures, marketing strategies, advice etc. Gary's personal brand projects authenticity and directness, he is often confronting the real truths of being a businessperson and the hard work that is truly needed. He is unfiltered and his candid approach resonated strongly with those alike.
The Benefits of Consistent Personal Branding
Being consistent with building a personal brand is extremely valuable career advice and it will significantly enhance your efforts and results will begin to show. By sharing valuable insights, industry updates and professional achievements you will see many benefits:
Increased Visibility:
Building a strong personal brand online and offline can significantly boost your visibility within your industry. By sharing relevant content, thoughts, and insights you are showcasing your knowledge and are positioning yourself as a thought leader and an expert in your field. This increased your chances of being noticed and followed by the right people relevant to you.
Credibility and Trust:
Building a personal brand that is curated with consistent content that is relevant, relatable, insightful, and trustworthy can establish credibility and build trust with peers. When credibility and trust are present your audience is more likely to engage with your content and who you are, as a connection has been formed.
New Business Opportunities:
A strong personal brand can open up new opportunities, from securing a new role to connecting with a new client when you are known as a trusted industry expert and have put yourself out there through personal branding people will be more likely to reach out to you with new opportunities.
Tips for Success in Personal Branding
Be Authentic:
Success in personal branding is rooted in the fact that people can connect, resonate and trust you and your opinions. This means you need to build an authentic personal brand, be genuine in who you are, what you think and your experiences, and stay true to your values and beliefs and people will see this.
Consistency:
Being consistent with personal branding is key to growth and success. Develop a routine of posting across the relevant platforms and connecting and engaging with others online and offline. Consistently post high-quality content that reflects who you are and what skills and values you hold.
Showcase Your Expertise:
Continue to share valuable information, insights, industry trends and useful tips. Showcase to others that you are an expert and hold value in your field.
Build Relationships:
Networking is a tool that is an essential part of personal branding. Connect and engage with industry peers, mentors and other opinion leaders. Actively engage with these individuals through conversations, comments, collaborations and by supporting them.
Some of the top career advice would be to incorporate Personal branding into your routine. It is worth the investment for professionals looking to advance their careers in today's competitive landscape. By strategically crafting your online presence, showcasing your expertise, and fostering meaningful connections, you can position yourself for success and gain new opportunities for growth and advancement. Remember, building a strong personal brand takes time, dedication, and consistency, but the rewards are well worth it in the long run.