A Little Guide To Help You Develop & Grow Your Personal Brand

Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands. While previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal-branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging. Personal branding also involves creating an asset by defining an individual’s body, clothing, physical appearance, digital and online presence and areas of knowledge in a way leading to a uniquely distinguishable, and ideally memorable, impression. Via Wikipedia

Your reputation both online and offline is everything. Before you even walk into an interview, employers will Google you and snoop through snapshots of your life on all social media networks. Before a client purchases your product/service, they want to know if you’re trust worthy, if you’re an expert, what you represent and what you stand for. Bottom line, your first impression can make or break you. You simply don’t know who is watching and what power they hold, so my primary advice is to always put your best foot forward.

For those of you who are thinking about strengthening your personal brand, you’ve come to the right place because I’ve created a little guide to ensure a smooth transition. The New Year is fast approaching and it’s in your best interest to re-evaluate your online presence so that you can open up a window filled with new opportunities in 2014. Perhaps you have a new business idea, or you want to switch careers, or you are ready to make profit from your true passion. You need to create a strong personal brand to achieve success for all of the above.

STEP 1: Before anything else, I need you to Google yourself. “Google myself?” Yes, Google yourself! Get a clear idea of what your reputation looks like. Stalk your Facebook posts, tweets, YouTube channel videos and website. If you think your character looks great, then go a step further and ask a friend or branding expert for a second opinion. Ask someone who will be honest with you, not someone who will fill your head with fluffy stuff.

STEP 2: Once you’ve identified your weak areas, I need you to start thinking of your brand as an investment and take the necessary steps to project a solid image. Your brand could very well outlive you if you create something people feel connected to. Following your switch in mindset, it’s now time to set some goals for your public image.

What is your area of expertise?
What are the main characteristics of your brand?
Who is your target audience?
Who is your competition?
What is your style of delivery and what makes it unique?
What does your logo say about you or your company?

If you need a push in the right direction, consider studying a brand that resonates with you. In my case, I follow the brands of Beyonce, Marie Forleo, Oprah Winfrey, Vashtie Kola, Kimora Lee Simmons, Karen Civil and too many others to name. You will find inspiration by surrounding yourself with more established brands. Read their story and challenges, their strengths, their unique abilities and what makes consumers totally obsessed with their products and services.

STEP 3: You need a website, not a blogspot, you need a dot com. Invest the time and money to personalize this platform and make it all about you. You’d surprised how much this will boost your credibility and reputation. Create a strong bio to paint a picture of your personal brand. Focus on telling a story people will remember.

STEP 4: Continue learning and reinventing yourself so your brand does not become stale. You need to keep it fresh and add new layers which provide that wow factor. I always keep a pen/notebook handy and or a tape recorder whenever I have a bright idea and need to create an awkward note-to-self statement right away. Hey! It totally works.

STEP 5: Keep people talking. Take a page from the books of Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Beyonce, who constantly provide us with buzz worthy news. Think about it, many bloggers wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for people like them who always keep us on our toes. Don’t hate the playa, hate the game. You may not agree with what content they put forth, but you don’t have to because you have your own brand to worry about. Stay true to you, create content worth spreading and build name recognition.

I hope this information gives you the push you need to jumpstart your new path. Remember, this is only the beginning. I love strategizing and brainstorming so if you would like some more advice or suggestions, visit me and let’s have a chat. I’d love to help you meet your goals.