What is a personal brand?
Corporations promote their brands to increase visibility, public awareness and sales (e.g. Nike, Apple, etc.). A personal brand allows individuals to highlight and promote themselves professionally.
Why is a personal brand important?
83% of recruiters use search engines to research candidates. 23% of professionals Google search people before meeting with them. The explosion of social media makes branding more important. Facebook has 850 million members, Twitter 500 million, LinkedIn 161 million, YouTube 4 billion video views per day. Your personal brand can reach across all social media platforms to recruiters, potential employers, networks, clients, etc.
Build your own personal brand
Do you have a brand? Personal brands are increasingly important especially in the workplace. Start by deciding what you want your brand to be and who the people are who have brands that you admire. Second, ask people for feedback on their perception of your brand. Are you viewed as a leader, a thinker, a team player, a star salesperson? Your actions will speak your brand. Are you dressing and speaking the part? Every interaction with someone at work effects the perception of how people view your brand and thus your capabilities.
What should I remember in building my personal brand?
1. Make a list of your skills and talents – What are your strengths, weaknesses?
2. List concrete examples of your accomplishments – how have you added value to your organizations.
3. Identify personal traits you have that set you apart from other – Are you more productive late at night? Do you have a gift for helping others to speak up?
4. Clarify your goals – Where do you want to be in 6 months, 5 years, etc.?
5. Find ways to enhance your brand – Look for new opportunities at work, take classes, research that idea for a new project or business.
6. Look for ways to increase your visibility – teach classes, volunteer, start a blog.
7. Know what you’re talking about – make yourself an expert in your area and people will look to you for information.
8. Think big and reevaluate your brand periodically.
What should I avoid doing?
1. Expecting instant rock-stardom. Building your brand takes time and patience.
2. Deceiving yourself about your strengths and weaknesses – if you see a problem, others will too.
3. Letting your personal brand become stale – continuous improvement is key.
4. Being inconsistent – make sure your plan supports your goals.
5. Feeling guilty
for promoting yourself – if you don’t do it, who will?
6. Hesitating to
ask others for input – fresh eyes.
7. Being closed to
new opportunities – you never know where they will lead you.
8. Losing your
focus – remember the goals.
About Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti
Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti is a prominent thought leader on the impact of technology on society, work and careers. She has been a visiting scholar at Stanford University's Media X program and is a former Silicon Valley executive who has held leadership positions at Apple, HP, Cisco Systems, and the Apollo Group. The author of 10 books, Dr. Wilen-Daugenti catalyzes new thinking among business leaders and employees. Dr. Wilen-Daugenti frequently contributes to The Huffington Post, the Examiner, Christian Science Monitor, and other national and international media outlets, including FOX News Live and CBS Radio. You can find more details about her and her work at TracyWilen.com.
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