Personal branding is a series of strategies and techniques that shape an appealing identity, maximizing the practitioner's chances of attracting new attention. For traditional companies, that strategy is about attracting new customers and building relationships with current ones. But for the individual job hunter, it's about establishing your professional identity to woo and attract potential employers.
Building a personal brand takes commitment and hard work, but it's a strategy that lasts forever. Once you build that personal brand, you'll have an easier time landing that perfect job, and you'll have a platform for business development and relationship building for years to come. Here are some of the benefits of having & developing your brand.
Gains in confidence
You develop confidence as you develop your personal brand. That confidence comes from looking at your strengths and knowing that you have many positive qualities to share. When you know that you have something of value to offer, your self-esteem/confidence soars. Your personal brand developed well, will highlight your strengths and gives you a direction in which to use them.
As an added bonus, personal branding also minimises your weaknesses. It’s human nature to want to improve your weaknesses, but by crafting your brand, you can determine whether you really need to use your weakest skills at all.
Building credibility
Your target audience wants to know that you can do what you say you’re going to do. You build credibility not through your words but through your actions. If you live your personal brand and keep your brand promise to your target market, you are automatically on the path to credibility.
Your actions, which align with your brand, validate that you can be trusted and show that you are credible. This will help with you making good impressions.
Leaving your mark
Part of the branding process is becoming known for something. Your first step is to identify your best characteristics so that you know what to build on. In a way, developing a personal brand is a means of ensuring that you leave a legacy. People will remember you through your actions, your expertise, and the emotional connections that you make.
But keep in mind that strong brands often repel as much as they attract; not everyone belongs in your target audience. Defining who you are means that you need to be brave enough to let your true self be visible.
Distinguishing yourself from the competition
You are hardwired to notice what is different. You notice the person dressed in red in a sea of black clothing. Differentiation is crucial to your personal branding success. If you are like everyone else in the market, you are a commodity, and you look the same to the customer as all the other options. If your target market discerns nothing special about you, it’s easy for the customer to pass you by.
Focusing your energy
You are probably as crazy busy as everyone else is. A benefit of having a personal brand is that when you have a clear understanding of who you are, what you do best, who you want to work with, and how you want to use your talents, you also know what you don’t want in your life.
Using your personal brand like a filter allows you to more easily say yes to the right opportunities and say no to the wrong opportunities. You know what is “on brand” and what is “off brand” for you. Branding gives you clarity so that you can focus your energy on what’s truly important to you.
Building a personal brand takes commitment and hard work, but it's a strategy that lasts forever. Once you build that personal brand, you'll have an easier time landing that perfect job, and you'll have a platform for business development and relationship building for years to come. Here are some of the benefits of having & developing your brand.
Gains in confidence
You develop confidence as you develop your personal brand. That confidence comes from looking at your strengths and knowing that you have many positive qualities to share. When you know that you have something of value to offer, your self-esteem/confidence soars. Your personal brand developed well, will highlight your strengths and gives you a direction in which to use them.
As an added bonus, personal branding also minimises your weaknesses. It’s human nature to want to improve your weaknesses, but by crafting your brand, you can determine whether you really need to use your weakest skills at all.
Building credibility
Your target audience wants to know that you can do what you say you’re going to do. You build credibility not through your words but through your actions. If you live your personal brand and keep your brand promise to your target market, you are automatically on the path to credibility.
Your actions, which align with your brand, validate that you can be trusted and show that you are credible. This will help with you making good impressions.
Leaving your mark
Part of the branding process is becoming known for something. Your first step is to identify your best characteristics so that you know what to build on. In a way, developing a personal brand is a means of ensuring that you leave a legacy. People will remember you through your actions, your expertise, and the emotional connections that you make.
But keep in mind that strong brands often repel as much as they attract; not everyone belongs in your target audience. Defining who you are means that you need to be brave enough to let your true self be visible.
Distinguishing yourself from the competition
You are hardwired to notice what is different. You notice the person dressed in red in a sea of black clothing. Differentiation is crucial to your personal branding success. If you are like everyone else in the market, you are a commodity, and you look the same to the customer as all the other options. If your target market discerns nothing special about you, it’s easy for the customer to pass you by.
Focusing your energy
You are probably as crazy busy as everyone else is. A benefit of having a personal brand is that when you have a clear understanding of who you are, what you do best, who you want to work with, and how you want to use your talents, you also know what you don’t want in your life.
Using your personal brand like a filter allows you to more easily say yes to the right opportunities and say no to the wrong opportunities. You know what is “on brand” and what is “off brand” for you. Branding gives you clarity so that you can focus your energy on what’s truly important to you.