When it comes to the concept of “personal branding”, the idea of marketing yourself can be pretty intimidating. It’s one thing for celebrities to develop their own larger-than-life persona (take Jay-Z’s “I’m not a businessman, i’m a business, man” philosophy for example), but what about the rest of us? Do we really need a personal brand? After all, aren’t we just… people?
The reality is that personal branding is an important practice for the modern-day career and in an increasingly connected world, your brand identity is essential for establishing your credibility.
I write, therefore I am.
The rise of digital content has created the ability for anyone to put themselves out there into the world. Between blogs, online videos, e-books and the ever-changing universe of social media, anyone can instantly become a writer, a commentator, a teacher, or an expert. Today, your personal brand equates to your reputation, or as Jeff Bezos put it, “Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.”
To develop your personal brand, you first must define yourself.
1. Think about how you want to be perceived and the impact you want to leave on your audience. Write down words, feelings, personality traits, and expertise you want to be associated with.
2. Compare and contrast. Take time to dig into the voice of some of your favorite columnists, authors and bloggers. What makes their voice so appealing to you? How would you describe their personality and communication style? What impression do they make on an audience?
3. Line up those reflections with your own list of desired associations. Circle the common themes — that is where you should focus.
To continue reading this piece from our partner, Purpose Generation, click here.
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