Personal branding is a unique mix of experiences and skills that create the person that you are. Having your own personal brand shows the world the real you, how you portray and present yourself. Everyone is different and there are plenty of benefits to having an effective personal brand.
Why Is Personal Branding Important?
Just think of how many times you will type in a product, person or business on search engines. A good first impression these days is vital. According to salesbenchmarkindex.com, ’65 per cent of all internet users view online search as the most trusted source of information about people and companies’. Having a personal brand is more important than ever.
Based on a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers will use social media to research candidates during the hiring process, as well as 43% of employers using social media to monitor current employees. Your personal brand can show employers of your talent, increasing the possibility of more opportunities. A poor personal brand can let others get ahead.
Having an effective personal brand is also good for business. Employees with strong personal brands can give their company more exposure and lead to more sales. Those same employees are more likely to gain new customers, as well as retain more through their trustworthy brand.
In more recent times, freelancing is becoming more popular, with a sharp increase in people selling their skills online. How can you get the edge over this influx of competition? An effective personal brand is becoming the main way to outcompete in the freelance market.
What Are Examples Of Personal Branding?
Some of the biggest celebrities and athletes have personal branding nailed down. They have a team to help them customise and adapt to changes in the market to help them stay relevant and heard. HingeMarketing hits the nail on the head, they say that ‘to become a global household name, you will probably need to invest much of your free time’.
You’ll see excellent examples of personal branding everywhere, but here are three who are at the top of their game.
Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins has one of the strongest online presences, full of content and pages related to him. Ranging from LinkedIn posts, Twitter content and his Instagram account, you could spend hours and hours going through his work. His digital footprint is vast, just try typing in ‘Tony’ into a search engine and you’ll see who’s on the first few pages.
Tony Robbins’ online presence allows people to find out all about him with ease, knowing what he does and what he represents with extensive amounts of content. This gives him credibility in his industry, making him a leader with trust from others who have searched him.
LeBron James
‘King James’ is one of the greatest ever basketball players, as well as an all-time legend in the sports world. LeBron James is well known as a role model in the industry, fighting for causes and using his profile to help others. Both on and off the court, he’s an inspiration to us all.
Using his huge online following, LeBron James creates an authentic insight into his life. By utilising social media platforms, he gives us regular glimpses into his lifestyle, with training, family life and the famous ‘Taco Tuesday’. Recently, James launched the ‘I Promise School’ which is a free public elementary school in his hometown Akron.
Elon Musk
Over the last few years, Elon Musk has become a household name, as well as his brand Tesla quickly becoming a leader in the car industry. Tesla is of course a pioneering product, but its success could be down to Elon Musk’s social media presence, which has helped the brand boom. Not many leading brand CEOs are as active on social media as he is, creating trust with customers and fans.
Some would say that Elon Musk is the greatest personal brand example. Using his social media following, Elon Musk is happy to take ideas from his followers and apply them to the brand. He engages with his audience and uses the latest trends to create viral tweets, constantly growing his and the brand’s image. Not many CEOs would be as laidback as he is when it comes to social media.
Personal Branding Tips
Be Unique
What will help you stand out from your competition? What makes you unique compared to others? BrandYourself say ‘identifying the unique elements that make you, you’. Finding what makes you special is a good place to start when wanting to separate yourself from competitors. To capture the attention of your audience, you need to not just sell a product or service but give a different experience.
Researching what other people in your industry are doing. You won’t stand out if you’re doing the same as them. What can you do to stand out from the crowd? Think outside the box and be yourself.
Consistency Is Key
For the most effective personal brand, all of your social media platforms should be consistent and represent the person you want to express yourself as. Think about people who have a successful personal brand, they are constantly giving their audience what they want, nonstop with their grind. Having your own niche and offering valuable information will make you a leader and trustworthy figure in your industry.
Try not to be opinionated in different areas to your niche. This can confuse your target audience and reduce trust. Whatever your industry is, be consistent and you’ll reap the rewards.
Have A Purpose For Content
As the saying goes, ‘quality is better than quantity’. Many say that creating and posting any content all the time will make you grow into an influential brand. This method usually fails. We find the best method is to have a content strategy that will promote your vision and goals. SocialMediaExaminer advise to ‘define your message’.
Each piece of content you share should have a specific goal in mind, aiming to put your ideas in front of the people who will help your journey. Create content people want to see, not what you think they want. Researching your target audience will put you one step ahead of others.
Where Do I Start When Personal Branding?
For people wanting to create their personal brand, market research is where you should start. Take a look at the industry you want to be in and see what others are doing. Next, ask yourself these questions and see how they relate to your personal brand:
- What’s your niche?
- What makes you unique to the competition?
- What are your core beliefs and values?
- How will your personal brand make others feel?
- What skills can you offer?
- Who are your ideal customers?
- What problem in the industry do you solve?
- What’s your key message?