"A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer's decision to choose one product or service over another."
-Seth Godin
Have you ever wondered how one person can sell the same thing better than the next guy? This is a common frustration shared by many, but too often most people fail to realize how to set their brand apart and above the rest.
Everybody is a Brand
What messes up your approach is that most people haven't wrapped their heads around the fact that they are a brand. The truth is that you are, even when you are not trying to be one. How you are perceived, and how people react to you, is a reflection of the brand that you have unconsciously shown them.
Personal branding is not just mere self-promotion. It is also an exercise that can significantly help in establishing confidence and credibility. It is also helps you to define your priorities and focus on the aspects of your life that you are most invested in.
When you don't take care of your brand, someone will do it for you and it might not go in your favor. So, why not take the reins and drive a great personal brand. In this way, you can establish how you want to be known in the industry or among your friends. This not only benefits your career or your business, because it also improves you right to the core.
Establishing one can be a gift that keeps on giving.
How Do You Establish a Good Personal Brand
In your efforts to create a personal brand, you have to be mindful of how you present yourself to others. How do you interact with people? or your customers? How do you want your peers or your boss to see you?
The reality is that you are already establishing a brand without you realizing it, but if you want to drive something positive, you need to be proactive at defining it on your terms. You can start with these tips.
Make a Personal Inventory
It is best to start with some introspection. Evaluate your life and what do you enjoy doing, in this way you can sort out your strengths and work from there. There is no point in doing something that you are not really interested in, otherwise you won't find the commitment in you to truly pursue it.
An inventory of yourself allows you to be more self-aware. Build your brand on the positive and authentic self. Remember, your brand should be a reflection of who you are. Otherwise, it would end up taxing for you to keep up with a fake persona. It is important to be reminded that you are dealing with people; people connect with people. If you are not real, time and circumstance will have a way of revealing it. Understand your true self first, what you stand for, define your aspirations and what you know you can bring to the table, before you share your brand to the world.
Do Your Homework
There are several prime examples of people who can be your life peg for success in self branding. You study these people, look closely into their branding efforts, and learn about their success and mistakes. Take what you can from thought leaders in your niche and how this can add value to the personal brand you aim to build.
Determine Your Brand
The usual problem encountered in developing a personal brand is the failure to determine how you want to brand yourself. It is essential that you develop a key message to cement a powerful personal brand. It has to be both compelling and congruent for it to be effective. Skipping this deprives you of the focus you need to establish that reputation you want to anchor.
For instance, if you want to be known as a sharp-witted public speaker, you need to build on your strengths that can help you achieve that. Learn from other movers in that niche and establish a good and constant presence.
You need to be aware of what will help you boost your image, which doors to open, or which ones to knock on to elevate yourself further with your goals. Determining your brand helps you to streamline your message, work on improving it, and make sure that you clearly deliver it.
This video shows the importance of key message for your personal brand. Listen as Jacky explains how a relatable and consistent message defines your personal brand, and other insights:
Build Your Platform
Just like marketing a business, you also need to be aware of the most effective and efficient platforms that can propel your personal brand. Your brand and your platform is like a message and bullhorn - be sure that you use this wisely.
Your platform is your stage, so be sure that you find your way onto the right stages. For instance, if you are a celebrity, the best would be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, or Snapchat. If you are a salesperson you may add LinkedIn, Medium, blogs, video blogs, or podcasts into the mix. Other channels available include network TV, cable TV, terrestrial radio, or a live audience.
In creating a personal brand, your biggest asset is your message - or your ability to create content. However, you need to use the right channels to distribute this message across. When you use as many channels as possible, it is then that you can attract the most value. This will help you capture attention, success, connections and influence. The more you publish, or put yourself out there, the more valuable connections you create.
Become a Prolific Storyteller
Did you know that storytelling is an effective way to convey a brand narrative? Stories captivates an audience's attention and eventually create a connection with you. Reel them in with stories, news, or memories to support your message, because this will help establish and strengthen that connection. If you want your brand and platform to grow, strive at being a good storyteller.
Aspire to Learn
Make it a point to always add value to yourself all the time. This is one of the secrets to sustain growth to your brand. Strive to continually grow and improve because the success you achieve today may not always be yours to keep if you lay comfortable in it.
These are just "primers" to help you develop a strong personal brand. Hone your strengths and build a personal brand that is truly you with a clear and strong message. Eventually, this will only be second nature to you as you gradually integrate it into your system, pouring over to your personal interactions. In time, you will have people believing in your brand, going for your product over the next vendor, or tag you as a credible speaker.
A good
personal brand will serve as your springboard that can launch your career and success in exciting new directions.
Learn more about personal branding with Jacky Lim today. Enroll in our
training or sign-up for our workshops and discover how you can catapult your career's success.
Image Source: Pixabay
