What is personal branding and why does it matter?
Personal branding is an intentional move to shape how others see you. With a strong personal brand, others will start to value you for what bring, helping you grow your business and further your career.
In this blog, we talk to branding expert Amy, who explains “what is personal branding?” and how to make it work for you.
What is personal branding? Is it the same as reputation?
Amy: It’s easy to confuse personal branding and reputation but they’re actually different. Your reputation comes from the impression you make: how good your work is, how you treat others and how you cope in a crisis. But your personal brand is something more intentional. Personal branding is consciously putting forward the qualities you want to be known for, like creativity, the ability to motivate others or the commitment to see a project through.
Your personal brand starts to matter when you decide you want more from your role. Maybe you want to attract new investors or clients. Or if you’re employed, maybe you want a promotion or to move to another organisation entirely. When we see a new opportunity, our personal brand will show others what we have to offer and why we deserve to achieve.
How do I build my personal brand?
Amy: Your personal brand has to be authentic to you. Think about who you are and what you do well. Why would you want to work with you? If that’s too big a question on its own, break it down. I encourage my clients to ask themselves these questions:
- What motivates you? Are you naturally conscientious or are you excited for what a new project could bring?
- What sparks your curiosity? People? Industry innovations?
- Where do you want to get to? What do you want to learn?
You might also think about some attributes that are often included in a personal brand and which ones you have. Think about your current role – not your job title, but the contribution you make by being the person you are. You might be an idea-generator, or a listener, or a problem-solver. You might be adaptable, committed, principled, or even courageous or entertaining.
Decide which words best describe you…and start using them!
I have a personal brand – what should I do with it?
Amy: The next step is to share your brand with those whom you think could help you move forward. A great start is to update your social media profiles, describing not just what you do but who you are. Writing your personal brand down like this will also help you crystallise it and give you some pithy phrases you can use in person too.
Once you’re feeling confident about your personal brand, reach out positively to the right people. You might ask someone in your organisation for a one-to-one, or meet a potential investor for lunch. Don’t be nervous – all you have to do is be yourself! You’ve identified what you have to offer and you should be proud to advertise it.
Further down the line, you might find that your personal brand helps you to up your game. The more you show people you’re a creative innovator, or a compassionate listener, or a focused organiser, the greater the value of these qualities. And when we feel valued for what we offer, our offering becomes even stronger.
Branding support from Get Ahead
If you’re feeling inspired to create a personal brand, Get Ahead can help. As well as Amy, we have a strong team of branding experts ready to help you find yourself and share it with the right people. With a strong personal brand, you can reach out and grab the next opportunity – what are you waiting for?
