What Is Personal Brand?

 PROLOGUE

What is 'Personal Brand'? For a long time, I thought it's the number of followers you have on social media or the number of people who know you, or the attention you are getting at a given point of time. But the more I thought about it, the more I found 'how wrong I was'!

 A Personal Brand is just 'YOU'! It is what people think about you. It is what they will remember about you after you are gone. The first time you meet anyone, you create an impression of yourself in the person's mind. A Personal Brand is precisely equated to your social image. But the fact worth discussing is, 'why is it important?' Stay on course till the end to explore the concept deeply.

Why Personal Brand?

Believe it or not, this world is an enormous market. And you are just a mere product in this trade; you are sold as seen. People don't care what's your background or where did you come from. They care what you can do, what are your skills and your face value.

Let's clarify this with an example. Suppose you want to buy a smartphone. What will you compare among the brands? You would be comparing performance, display, design and many factors. But there's another factor that is unconsciously changing your decision i.e 'Brand Value'. You don't think if you are buying a thousand-dollar iPhone, but you will if you buy a thousand dollar Oppo smartphone.

This same thing applies to humans. We see a lot of mortals whine that they are not doing good in business. The problem is not that they are not getting opportunities. The problem is in their 'Conversion Rate'. Most of the time, people are not able to convince their clients. Like I said before 'sold as seen', what people see, what they perceive about you is a constraint that affects your conversion rate.

No matter where you are? In which domain you are? Or in which industry you work? Even in life, your personal brand value is always ever-existing.

If you are still reading this, then you must be thinking about going for a full change. If you are anxious to know how you can change your market value, then stay right with me.

How to create your Personal Brand?

This is not a one day process that you put your magical elements, and voila you got your personal brand-No. It takes a lot of time and more than just efforts.

One aspect is changing the way people think about you. You have to analyze what are your strengths and weaknesses. A lot of time, people are not aware of their talents and skills. One of the best ways is to take part in all kinds of co-curricular activities. You should explore the world around you.

Secondly, acquire some skill. Owning a skill should not be equated with a hobby. Hobbies make you feel good, but they don't help you earn money. Whereas, skills act as a catalyst to your career development. Skills can allow you to start your own side hustle business. According to many studies, applicants who have a craft of their own are more likely to get a job. This not only gives a considerable impact on the interviewer but explains that you have something extra that others don't. And people love what comes in a package.

Third and most eminent, soo important that I should have discussed this in the first place. It is your 'Mindset'. If you have that willingness to work, that shear dedication towards your aim, you can achieve anything. Self-Confidence is profoundly significant to influence people. Mental Agility and adaptability skills are crucial for influencing and leading people in varying circumstances.

 

Believe it or not, your relation with your friends and relatives is a defining factor in how people perceive your identity as an individual. People will chat with a person who radiates amiable vibes. Henceforth, never be harsh and cruel to anyone.

Hate is another big factor that drives people crazy! Hatred makes people lose confidence. But never be alarmed or upset of hate. Instead, take it as a compliment. If someone criticizes your work, then use it as feedback and improve your strategies. Trust me, there is nothing in this world that is never hated or criticized. It is all part of learning and growing. So remember this, 'Learn From Your Haters'.

This might seem like a list, but it is not. These are just a few suggestions, you may add some key points according to your demands.

How to build your Personal Brand?

1.    Figure out who you are!

I have been babbling about this from the start. You should be aware of yourself, your weaknesses, your strengths. If you don't know how to do this then, ask yourself:

·     In which areas of work do I excel?

·     What motivates me?

·     What characteristics have others complimented me on?

·     Which projects have others had to help me with repeatedly?

·     Which roles seem to drain my energy?

·     Which projects can I spend hours on without feeling overwhelmed or tired?

Keep in mind you are answering to yourself, so be honest.

2.    Research your desired industry and follow the experts

In any industry, there are two big players. One who is the best and the second who came first, you need the best. You have to research in your niche and find a mentor.

In building a personal brand, your goal is to stand out—but you can't rise to the top without taking inventory of who's already there.

3.    Define and Reach your audience

Before you start crafting your personal brand, you also need to determine who you're trying to reach. People who are related and interested in your niche will understand the type of story you need to tell (and where you need to tell it.)

For example, if your goal is to reach hiring managers and recruiters, you might start by creating or updating your LinkedIn profile. Why? Because 92 per cent of recruiters leverage social media to find high-quality candidates and, of those, 87 per cent use LinkedIn.

On the other hand, if you are a graphic designer trying to impress existing clientele and attract new customers, you might choose to tell your story via a personal website or portfolio, where you can better express your wide range of talents.

4.    Create Networks

As you cultivate your ideal personal brand, it is important to connect and network with people to grow your professional circle. The more connections you make—and the more value you can provide in your interactions—the more likely it is your personal brand will be recognized.

For this attend events, don't be shy about asking fellow attendees to meet again for an informational interview or a casual coffee chat. Remember you can always spark a conversation through LinkedIn or other social media.

5.    Grow your online presence

This is the most important aspect of personal brandings. Make sure your online presence is engaging in hiring managers, co-workers - even if you are not hunting a job.

With so many different social media tools available today, your online presence will likely look different depending on the medium you choose. While your story should match across all platforms, once you know where your targeted audience is most likely to turn, you can redouble your efforts in telling your best story there.

These are just a few suggestions. The more you will explore, the more viewpoints you will discover. Just keep yourself updated all the time. Change your strategies according to your feedback and improvise based on it.

End Notes

Well, this may be an end to this article, but a kickstart to your personal brand. It is not easy but also not difficult. Building a profitable personal brand online is not a sprint and something that happens overnight. Don't aim for perfection early on. Instead allow your brand to evolve naturally over time and focus on providing massive value and over-deliver to your target audience. Then you will get more clear over your message and brand as well. Always remember that!