How To Achieve A Stunning Personal Brand For Your Career

To take your career to the next level, you need to create a personal brand. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an employee, having a strong online presence will work in your favor. The narrative you create for yourself will determine how people perceive you. By showcasing your values, passions, and expertise, you give hiring managers and potential clients insight into who you are. A personal brand is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity and it will create opportunities, open doors, and get you noticed. Here are tactics on how to achieve a stunning personal brand for your career. 

Define Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Think about your favorite stores or brands that you are loyal to, what is it that makes you connect with them? That is a USP, it’s the thing that makes you stand out from the crowd. In this world, there is nothing new under the sun, everything has been done before. If you want a pair of sneakers, there are many different brands you can purchase them from, but what makes you go to Nike every time? That is what you need to figure out about your brand, the one thing you can provide that will give you a competitive advantage over your competition. 

Identify Your Target Audience

A target audience is the specific group of people your products and services are aimed at. You determine your target audience by doing the following:

Market Research: Market research is collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information about a market. Market research methods can include interviews, surveys, and focus groups. 

Analyze Your Competitors: Your competitors will tell you everything you need to know about your target audience, especially the ones who have been in the industry the longest. Evaluate things like where they advertise, reviews, and their social media followers. 

Evaluate Industry Trends: In every industry, there are gaps in the market. By evaluating industry trends, you discover what those gaps are so that you can fill them and improve the uniqueness of your brand. 

Create A Brand Story

A brand story is a narrative that defines your identity, purpose, and values. This is how you develop an emotional connection with your audience. It’s your origin story, and gives your audience insight into why you do what you do. When thinking about how to create your personal brand, your brand story is one of the most important aspects to consider. Here are some tips on how to create a brand story:

Be Authentic: Be authentic as possible and let your audience know the real you. The more authentic you are, the deeper the emotional connection will be with your audience. 

Keep It Short: A long drawn out brand story will bore people. Make it short, concise, and easy to digest. When you are writing it out, stick to a maximum of 1000 words. 

Highlight the Benefits: Your brand story is a form of promotion; highlight all the benefits of your personal brand so that your audience know what they are getting. 

Develop An Online Presence

The first thing potential employers or clients will do when they are considering you is Google your name. What they see will influence their decision; therefore, create a strong online presence that showcases your brand. The most effective way to achieve this is through a website, social media, a blog, and media engagement. There are plenty of online magazines looking to interview entrepreneurs, contact them and get your name out there. You can also reach out to podcasts and YouTube channels in your industry for interviews. 

If you are new to personal branding, learning how to create your personal brand can all be a bit daunting because it takes a lot to build one. However, the benefits are undeniable, and once you start getting recognized in your industry as a thought leader, its onwards and upwards for you.

(Source: Forbes)