Did you know we all have a personal brand? No matter who you are or what job you have, our personal brand precedes most interactions we have… which is why it’s so important we build our own brands.
But just what is a personal brand? According to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon: “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
In other words, it is how others portray you, your reputation – if you think about it, your name is actually your greatest asset and will stay with you for the rest of your life. So, transforming it into a strong personal brand is your best strategy for success.
Daunting? Perhaps. Exciting? You betcha! As we are now the masters of our reputations and can take the reins to communicate our skills and experience, and what we stand for… because it wasn’t always like this. Previously, there was a separation between work life and social life.
However, with the explosion of the digital era, our reputations are now carved out in a digital footprint, namely through social media. We now have the personal power to articulate our own story and position ourselves in a way to attract the right people and opportunities into our lives.
If this isn’t enough to get you jumping online to enhance your brand, here are 5 reasons why you should build a personal brand:
1. Stand out from the crowd
When applying for jobs you will be competing against people with similar backgrounds – their work history, qualifications, and referrals. With candidates presenting such a similar resume, how can you stand out from the crowd? The answer: by having a strong personal brand! A personal brand will differentiate you from the competition and show your potential employer how your values align with their organisation and how your area of expertise can benefit them. In short, if you don’t have a personal brand, you will just blend in.
2. Network growth
The larger your network the more exposure you will have to opportunities, and that’s what we all want, right?! Whether it is professional or personal opportunities, as you build your personal brand, your reputation builds… leading to a positive influence and great referrals. You will be building a network of trusted people who can advocate for you – furthering your reach and your own brand.
3. Build trust
The key to building trust is by clearly defining who you are and what you stand for – which all forms part of your personal brand. When you showcase your genuine intentions, people are automatically drawn to you and feel comfortable – they feel like they know you! And when people trust you, a whole new set of doors is opened to you – after all, you don’t engage with someone you don’t trust.
4. Trusted expert
By stating the specific skills and experience you can bring to an organisation, you will become memorable, compared with someone who is more ‘well-rounded’. Being a trusted expert in your field will raise the worth of your work and gain you recognition in your area of speciality… this all leads to building a lasting impression on those you come in contact with, both online and offline.
5. Attract new opportunities
Whether you’re actively looking, or passively scanning opportunities that come across your plate. Having a strong personal brand will attract new opportunities as you align with people and organisations. Such opportunities could be:
- Job interviews
- Promotions
- Partnerships
- Internships
- Networking opportunities
- Referrals
- Relationships
- And more…
Building a personal brand is worth it, even if it takes a bit of effort. Your personal brand will follow you throughout your career (and personal life), and either help or hinder it. So what are you waiting for? Start building your personal brand today and see where it can take you.
