How we perceive ourselves changes many times during our lives. Depending on our age, prospects, or even the people we surround ourselves with. Sometimes this happens on its own, but there comes a time when we need to take matters into our own hands. How can we shape our image? How do we make ourselves feel like a brand new person at the same time, instead of putting on a show? What are the most important elements of our image?
What is a personal brand?
In simple words - personal branding is a marketing strategy for creating your brand and shaping how you want to be perceived by other people. It has a huge impact on your reputation, career, and professional work. When you create a personal brand you are creating your image, this doesn't happen on its own, of course - it requires a lot of strategic and thoughtful action. It influences your lifestyle, communication with others, and other daily behavior. That's why it's a good idea to create a personal brand with care.
For whom is personal branding important?
This tool is very important for people who in some way want to stand out from others in their field or develop a perception of them, and make an impact on their audience. Entrepreneurs, freelancers, politicians, businessmen, artists, celebrities, influencers, journalists - these are just a few examples of professional fields in which it is worth considering the creation of a personal brand. The important point here is to give your work an individualized value.
How to effectively shape personal branding - 7 tips.
As we mentioned earlier - this does not happen on its own. It requires a lot of strategic involvement and planning. The idea itself is also not enough, you need to put it into practice and follow your findings, be consistent in your actions. We have prepared some tips on the personal branding process that may be helpful to you.
1. Start with the basics
Think about how you want to be perceived, remember that your brand is you. Examine how you have been seen so far and, based on that, think about what you want to strive for and what elements you want to eliminate. Consider your past achievements, skills, and strengths, but don't forget to be authentic.
2. Set your goals and choose the audience
Having specific goals is very important if you don't want to wander in the dark. What is a personal brand without a precise vision and mission? Having them will help you make key decisions about creating your brand. One of them is choosing your target audience. Its selection influences the nature of the actions you take even if only the way you promote or communicate with your audience. You need to make the brand you are building attractive to these specific people.
3. Find something that sets you apart
What are you the best at? What do you want to be characterized by? What do you want to be associated with? Focus on your strengths, and find an offer that your recipient will find irresistible. In addition, it's a good idea to stand out from the competition with something. This could be an artistic logo, professionally managed social media, a polished website, or even a promotion that is distinctive only to you. One way to stand out is to create a unique personal brand statement. But what is it?
Personal brand statement examples
A personal brand statement is a few sentences that summarize your brand in a catchy and clever way and show its uniqueness. It is a text about you but directed to your audience. It is a mandatory part of personal branding, and it is worth creating it in such a way that it attracts attention and encourages people to learn more about you and your brand. We have selected some personal brand statement examples that may inspire you to create your own.
"Be a unicorn in a sea of donkeys." - Larry Kim
Larry Kim is a search marketing expert who chose to draw attention to his otherness and uniqueness in his slogan. Such a way definitely attracts attention and makes you memorable to the viewer.
"Helping you build a big brand with your small business." - Kate Toon
Kate is a copywriter who specializes in helping small businesses reach a bigger audience. Her message is clear and precise, making her target audience clear.
"Move well, eat well, think well." - Adam Cobb
Adam Cobb is a fitness and nutrition coach. His goal is to improve the quality of life through exercise and healthy eating, which he clearly states in his brand statement.
4. Be active on the Internet and social media
Let's not kid ourselves - these days the Internet and social media are the most popular and effective ways to communicate with customers and promote yourself. You need to be visible and active, create your website, and accounts on multiple social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and go from there. This will help you increase your reach and promote your brand. Being active on social media is the easiest way to create your brand because of the huge audience and ease of use.
5. Create contacts and enter into partnerships
Having contacts is very helpful in creating your brand. Making partnerships can help you promote yourself and bring material benefits. Additionally, it supports building your credibility and reputation.
6. Don't be afraid of competition
Competition in the market can be very helpful in shaping your brand. It is a good way to identify your strengths and weaknesses. It allows you to explore the path of further development, and forces you to ask the question: what can I do to be better than others?
7. Be consistent, confident, and prone to change
Consistency is a very crucial point in creating your image. It affects your credibility and how the public perceives you. Confidence in yourself and your actions also has a positive impact on your perception, you can gain respect and admiration through it. By displaying confidence you draw attention to yourself, and being noticeable is one of the most important goals. Listening to feedback and possibly responding to it is also important. Don't be afraid of changes that can help you.
Building a personal brand is a very complex process, but it's worth the time and effort to strategically plan every step you take. From now on you will know what is a personal brand and how to create it. We hope our tips will at least in a small way help you feel like a brand new person.
