Developing your personal brand is essential for the advancement of your career. It is what makes you special, and how you'll become more valuable to an organization.
Here are a few tips on how to develop your personal brand:
1. Get Clear On Your Unique Value Proposition
To become respected in your company or industry, you need to be very clear on what unique value you provide and how to connect that to your company's mission.
Most people—and I see it all the time with my interview coaching clients—are not that clear on what makes them different from others. This is the reason they don't get the jobs or promotions they are after!
Your brand should be authentic to you so notice your emotions when performing certain tasks and activities. If it is something you have passion and energy for, it should become part of your personal brand.
Spend some time thinking about what makes you different from your peers—your strengths, your passions, and your goals.
2. Ask For Feedback
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What do you want others to experience about you?
You might want to write down 3-5 things you'd want others to experience when interacting with you and then ask a close friend or a trusted colleague to do the same. Are the answers similar? If so, well done. If not—you have some work to do in terms of branding yourself the right way.
It is important to understand how others perceive you as this will enable you to start sending the right messages to your audience. And having a personal brand is definitely a requirement for leadership positions and will enable you to create more impact.
3. Be Consistent
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Everything you do or post on social media ultimately contributes to your personal brand. Once you're clear on your personal brand, make sure that the way you dress, the emails you write, your body language, and so on are consistent with your brand message.
4. Use Social Media Effectively
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Platforms like WordPress make it easier than ever to promote yourself to your target audience. I blog weekly, and I'd recommend that you post a couple of times a week on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter on topics that your audience will find educational (and will also highlight your experience).
Here is a quick guide on how you can position yourself as an expert so that you get the best opportunities in your business or career.
5. Promote Your Brand In Person
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Utilizing social media to build your personal brand is great, but make sure you promote your brand in person, too. Whether it is participating in industry groups, giving talks, or offering to lead a project that highlights your talents, what can you do to promote your brand offline?
If you want to be successful, creating a personal brand isn't just an option; it's a necessity. Whether you aspire to get that promotion or land your dream job, creating a compelling and consistent brand will help you meet your goals.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
