BUILDING A PERSONAL BRAND
Creating a strong personal brand can be difficult, and not something that many consider a necessity. But having a strong personal brand has never been more important in this crazy world we live in.
It’s also not as hard to get started as you may think, all it takes is a little bit of time, some sound advice and the internet.
LinkedIn is the easiest and best way to develop and promote your professional personal brand. Think of it as your agent, recruiter, sales person, and contact manager all rolled into one.
Through this online portfolio, you are putting yourself out there as a brand, which can only further assist you in the promotion of other brands, businesses, and products you love. As Tom Peters once said: “We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called you.”
Follow these ten tips to start building a stronger personal brand on LinkedIn:
One - Be authentic.
Don’t try and be someone you’re not (duh!). You’re not fooling anyone, and people relate far better to honesty and sincerity. Just remember, personal branding is not ‘sales’, try and be unique while letting your audience form their impressions and opinions.
Two - Make a good first impression.
Here is your opportunity to create a good first impression. Make sure you are clear and confident in yourself. The best way to do this is through your LinkedIn headline.
Three - Say NO to the clichés.
Do these buzz words sound familiar- ‘Creative’, ‘organised’, ‘experience’, and ‘communication skills’? That my friend is the sound of overused clichés. Instead, show your creativity by using more original buzzwords to describe your employability skills.
Four - Be visible.
Actively using your LinkedIn account will allow you to keep on the radar. Don’t forget to update your projects, connections, post and comment on what you’re reading and interested in. Give your audience an idea of how you tick.
Five - Develop impressive brand associations.
Make sure you’re building a network of people who are associated and interested in what your brand represents. LinkedIn is a great forum to reconnect with old friends…but so is Facebook. Try and keep your connections relevant and professional.
Six - Add to your knowledge.
Never stop learning about your industry. Hopefully, you will have chosen an industry you love so it will always be interesting to learn new things. No Matter what area you are in, things are always changing and evolving. Make sure you’re keeping up to date.
Seven - Share in groups.
Connecting to groups is not only a great way to involve and market your personal brand to like-minded people. It is a way to continue adding to your industry knowledge and actively learning.
Eight - Personal Touch.
Going back to being an authentic you, avoid intimidation. Make sure you include personal touches whenever possible. It may be as simple as sending a personalised message when requesting to connect with someone; which you should always do.
Nine - Be consistent.
Pick a path and stay on it. Don’t confuse your audience with mixed messages about what your brand stands for.
Ten - Help Others.
Treat LinkedIn as a community. Share job opportunities, assist others by endorsing their skills, support their achievements, and don’t be afraid to give advice. Always add value.
One extra tip:
Hire an expert.
Sometimes it is best to get professional advice, this is your public profile after all. Popcom write profiles, and give advice on strategies to build a strong personal brand to many clients. We are always happy to help.
For more tips and information on building a personal brand contact us at POPCOM, we would love to tell your story.
By Amelia Pridham
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