Build Your Best Brand
Building a personal brand is to an entrepreneur what a resume is to a recent college grad… it’s priceless. Branding yourself, gives you the opportunity to tell the world your story, in your own way. It also provides the ability to let others know what you’re working on and what you’ve achieved. Initially, it may seem a little vain to flaunt your accomplishments, skills, and talents – but creating a dynamic story around who you are and who you are aiming to become is essential in this uber-connected and over-exposed world that we live in.
Branding yourself, gives you the opportunity to tell the world your story, in your own way.
Whether you’re a new blogger, a freelancer, an experienced entrepreneur or just someone with bold ideas, building your personal brand should be at the very top of your must-do list!
You’ve probably already started on it anyway. Think about it. If you’re currently on any social media platform, you most likely have actually begun to create a personal brand… whether you realize it or not. But now is the time to put some real energy and creativity into cultivating a true expression of you and all that you have to offer.
Let’s get started with my top 3 tips for building a personal brand you love
1 – Be Authentic
One very important aspect of being socially successful is being able to connect well with others. A connection is developed through trust. Most people are drawn to what is real, what is transparent and what is believable.
So just be yourself.
No one is expecting you to put on a show, and since you can’t fake being something that you’re not for very long, authenticity will ensure consistency, give you an edge on the competition and also help you gain a loyal engaged following. Â
No one is expecting you to put on a show, and since you can’t fake being something that you’re not for very long, authenticity will ensure consistency, give you an edge on the competition and also help you gain a loyal engaged… Click To Tweet2 – Invest in Yourself
Let’s be real, having a strong personal brand is essential to differentiate yourself in an overcrowded market (no matter what your niche is). This makes identifying the correct social media platforms and in-person avenues, to participate in, an important part of sharing who you are with the world.Â
It’s easy to think that there’s a one-size-fits-all formula, but that is not the case. It is up to you to research opportunities that are the best fit for your brand.
For example:
– Choose networking events that will strategically place you in the company of those who have the ability to elevate your status
– Collaborate with others who have a following that you may otherwise have difficulty reaching
– Create a strong online presence by using social media platforms that appeal to your target audience.
3 – Integrate Social Media
We are social beings.
We live in the most socially saturated period (of time) in history and are exposed to the daily life (often minute-by-minute) of those that we know, and those that we don’t, because of the connectivity that social media provides. For some, it has been an adjustment. Being open and sharing your life, experiences, memories and even the successes and failures of your life or business, may not be your idea of great marketing. For others, social media provides a platform that allows open transparent communication, exposure to previously unavailable audiences, and potentially a new revenue stream.
No matter how you currently feel about social media, it’s important that you form an effective relationship with it. Integrate it into your daily marketing activities and watch your audience grow. For most of us, social media will be the hub, of your personal brand. By creating a strong social media presence, through a personal website, a blog or a YouTube channel or Instagram account, you control your message. You control the presentation of your thoughts and ideas, business concepts and new offerings.
Once you’ve invested time into developing your personal brand it’s up to you to cultivate it. There are several ways to do this:
– Become a thought leader in your respective field by sharing valuable easy-to-understand information.
– Share behind-the-scenes experiences. If you’re a business owner, this can help you make deeper connections with your customers.
– Learn as much as you can about your area of expertise or topic of choice. In turn, provide that information to your followers. They will value it and begin to trust your thoughts and opinions.
By implementing these steps, you can gain exposure, maximize your influence and develop a loyal following. Your personal brand will open doors for you, that you may not have come across through traditional marketing alone. It will take some time and consistent effort, but it will be well worth the investment.
Branding yourself, gives you the opportunity to tell the world your story, in your own way Click To Tweet Your personal brand will open doors for you, that you may not have come across through traditional marketing alone. Click To Tweet
Preach! I can not say enough about how important it is to be yourself in life. The world has enough imitators and liars. The can only be one Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett. What the world needs is you! Thanks for sharing!
Your comment is so on point! Most people spend so much time trying to live someone else’s life that they completely miss the opportunity to create the life that is truly meant for them. We are all unique and embracing that frees you up from envy and competition!
Really great tips as a newer blogger! Thanks!
Jahava – You’re welcome! Glad you found value in this post 🙂
These tips are all so important, especially investing in yourself. That is definitely a smart way to get ahead.
Eden! I agree, we have to make in invest in ourselves (and our businesses) and that doesn’t always mean money. It just means being strategic with our efforst!
Loved this read and you made so many great points about personal branding. I agree with your perspective of transparency online in order to gain a loyal following. This is so important! Im bookmarking this for later referencing. Thanks Tiffany!
Thanks Amy – I truly believe that transparency is what attracts others to you…. they will feel your authenticity through your pictures and words. I’m super excited that you got something out of it.
This is really good! It’s important to remember that while there are “rules” and “guidelines” of how to best build a following and find readers, what really matters in the end is that you are being you! It requires a lot of authenticity and sometimes vulnerability, but I find that some of my posts where I break the “rules” are often the most popular ones!
You hit the nail on the head… no matter how many strategies you employ or steps you take to build a following, if you’re not being authentic (and yes, sometimes vulnerable) you won’t attract the engaged audience that you desire.
These are three truly important steps to take to ensure and cultivate your personal brand. I love social media and (almost) everything about it! I love creatively sharing aspects of my life and, likewise, being able to experience other’s lives with them. I think the biggest thing for me is learning more about my field and the nitty gritty aspects that go into what I do. That and integrating more solidly with others in my field. I feel like I do that to an extent, but I really need to up my game! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
You’re welcome Rachel Lynn! Integration starts with engagement. 🙂