5 Tips for Personal Branding
So here we are at the end of 2010. After a failed economy things are starting to look better (if only slightly). Companies are beginning to bring back their workforce in small numbers but let's face it, the number of out of work professionals far outweighs the number of positions available and competition is fierce. These days it takes more than a nice resume and list of impressive qualifications to get you that job. Why? Because there are 10 more right behind you with a resume every bit as impressive as yours, vying for that same position.
And now with the explosion of social living online, it's easier than ever for employers to get a feel for the type of person you are without ever having to schedule an interview or even call you. With an ever growing number of companies either recruiting through social networks or researching potential candidates through their social networks, your own personal brand has become more important than ever to set yourself apart from the competition and let your potential employer know who you are and what you stand for. Here are a few tips to get you started on building your personal brand:
1. Consistency Just like any other business out there, brand consistency is a crucial part of being memorable. By consistent I mean, use the same picture across all of your social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, etc. Just like Nike uses the same logo everywhere, the more it is seen the better it sticks. Creating your own personal logo is a nice touch as well. It can instantly provide a perception of who you are and create an interest in you.
2. Start A Blog Starting a blog with your own personal domain is good way to start your personal brand. To a potential employer a blog can show how well spoken you are. It illustrates your spelling and grammar and adds an air of professionalism. It's also a good way to show how well versed you are on a particular topic.
Check out WordPress for setting up a blog on your own domain. WordPress is free but you will need to pay for your domain name (about $10 a yr) and hosting (between $5-$10 a month depending on the provider). Siteground is a pretty reliable inexpensive hosting solution and domain name provider. They will also install WordPress free of charge and offer several themes for customizing your blog.
3. Focus On What You Do Best Your personal brand is a form of advertising and just like any other business, you need to focus on the value of your brand. An employer will be asking the question, "Why you?" Your job is not only to answer that question, but convince them "why you". What sets you apart from the rest? Be confident but not arrogant.
4. Don't Get TOO Personal The personal touch can go a long way in establishing trust and giving someone the feeling that they "know" you but don't get too personal. Personal opinions and views on touchy subjects such as politics and religion should be avoided. Be personal, but stay objective and professional at all times. Keep separate personal social networking accounts if necessary.
5. Network, Network, Network When building your own brand "market saturation" is key. Social interaction in person is just as important as online. Be sure to keep business cards with you at all times. Business cards are a quick way to provide your contact information and tell a person what you do without being too pushy. Everybody knows somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody and the more people that you can meet in your target audience, the better your odds are of being found, or better yet, sought after.
These are just a few tips that can help you get started building your own personal brand and is by no means an all inclusive list. Leave us a comment and let us know what methods you have used for building your personal brand and how effective it has been for you. Also let us know of anything you've learned NOT to do when it comes to personal branding.
About the Author
WayLay Design is a Las Vegas web design company that likes to "see things differently." We offer print, graphic, and web design services for personal branding, corporate branding, and small business/non-profit needs. We also have a blog that we keep updated with industry tips, tricks, tools, featured clients, and more! You can visit our website at: http://www.waylaydesign.com for more information about us!
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