Have you ever asked yourself what is a personal brand?
In today’s digital era, where the internet has become the most effective marketing tool in the world, personal branding is the key to success. The job market is extremely competitive, gone are the days when having the right qualifications and stellar interview skills were enough to secure a position in your field; now, you need to have the total package, and that includes a personal brand. Several components make up a personal brand including vision, authenticity, and a brand personality. All of which will now be discussed.
What is personal branding?
Your personal brand is your online reputation. It is the unique identity you create to tell the world who you are, your values, your skills, and your professional capabilities. Developing a personal brand is important because it helps you stand out in your industry and gives you a competitive advantage over others. Whether you like it or not, you are a brand, because when you walk into a job interview, you are judged according to your performance. By going the extra mile and creating a personal brand to give hiring managers something tangible to work with, you make like a lot easier for yourself. Some things to consider when building your personal brand include the following:
Vision: Your brands vision is about the future and what you want to achieve. It is similar to a mission statement and provides a strategic direction for your branding efforts. It will help align your decisions and actions so that you can keep growing your brand. When you write your vision, it should be clear, concise, and define your short and long-term goals.
Authenticity: Your personal brand is a reflection of you, and authenticity will help you stand out. Society puts a lot of pressure on people to conform to a certain standard, and while it might seem easier to do so, when it comes to personal branding, it can actually work against you. An authentic personal brand reflects your true values, passions, and expertize.
Brand Personality: In case you were wondering what is a brand personality? A brand personality refers to the characteristics and traits of your brand. It puts a personal spin on the brand giving it a unique identity that your audience can relate to. Characteristics such as friendliness, innovation, or sophistication help make your brand recognizable. Think about it like this, if a brand such as McDonalds, Nike, or Apple were a person, which one would you go out to dinner with? McDonalds is dependable, welcoming, unpretentious, and light-hearted. Nike is determined, strong, energetic, and fit. Apple is elite, popular, steadfast, and sensational. These are the impressions you get when you interact with these brands and it is intentional, that is what the founders wanted. What personality do you want your brand to have?
Streamlining: A part of your brand includes a logo, tagline, colors, and a voice. They should be consistent across all channels. Your website, social media pages, and internet presence should all say the same thing. Regardless of where someone finds your brand, they should be able to recognize it because of your consistency. Before you build your personal brand, these are some of the things you will need to consider and be very strategic about. What you don’t want to do is keep changing your brand because it is not having the desired effect. For example, when it comes to colors, experts say you should research industry norms. What are the typical colors used in your field? Although you should aim to be unique, straying too far away from the status quo can work against you.
By developing a personal brand and crafting a distinct personality that resonates with your target audience, you increase your chances of success in your industry. It is also important to mention that building a personal brand takes time and effort, but it’s definitely worth it so why not give it a try.
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