Building a Personal Brand to get noticed more
We live in an attention and trust economy. Everyone is seeking to get noticed more. Nobody is going to make this happen for you.
And anyway you want to be in charge so that you get the chance to craft your own narrative.
Your reputation is what they say when you are not in the room – your personal brand is the story you add to that to demonstrate how you put a dent in the universe – the impact you can demonstrate and value you bring.
Why is a strong Personal Brand important?
ONE Good is not enough
Whilst the post pandemic world of work seeks to be a little more human, recognise the impact of change in our lives and embrace hybrid working practices – understand that if you want to progress, it is still a very competitive space.
A strong work ethic and good results may not be enough to keep your career moving in the right direction – you need to be known, recognised, valued and noticed. You have to make this happen.
TWO It is valuable
A great Personal Brand gives you visibility, broadens your connections, gives credibility and shows your commitment.
It takes effort and lots of small steps consistently taken over time to create a distinctive personal brand. It is an asset to invest in because it moves around with you as you progress.
THREE Be Smarter
Being invisible is getting easier whereas being noticed in a world of message overload and overwhelm is getting harder. Everyone is vying for our ‘eyeballs and ears’ in this attention driven economy. You have to work hard, be smart and market yourself.
FOUR Set yourself up to win
Whether you want to win a promotion, land a new job or change careers – your personal brand and reputation will make that easy or hard. Whilst you cannot change the past you can craft a narrative that tells the right story.
FIVE Best of both worlds
In a virtual world if you are out of sight, you may be out of mind. Whilst many are voting not to be in an office environment all the time – a downside of this, is it is harder to remain top of mind with Leaders.
Many Managers and Leaders are opting for office rather than hybrid work over concerns they have on how it impacts their careers – let alone yours!
You need to be able to stay remote; and demonstrate your value consistently and visibly. It is possible but you have to actively manage how you communicate your value and relevance – it will not just happen.
SIX Keeping up and staying relevant
With more regular career changes, the introduction of new hybrid roles and the emergence of new industries with completely new jobs – you need to regularly refresh your skills and rebrand. Good personal branding is your story on how your past has helped create your present. You are not leaving people to guess what it means – you are telling them.
Nothing remains static you are moving with the flow or getting left behind. You have to position yourself to be able to transition between different careers to get the right opportunities. A good story helps.
SEVEN First impressions count
These will probably be delivered online. In business LinkedIn is important and not just when you are changing jobs. People will constantly check you out in a professional and social capacity. Your LinkedIn profile is first base – write it to get you noticed.
When did you last press the refresh button on your personal brand?
11 Ideas to help you build a better Personal Brand
1) This is a subtle art to get noticed not about blatant self-promotion.
You will earn recognition through performing, serving others and giving value – not boasting. See this as a long term investment and a way to work not a stepping stone to advance your career right now.
2) Make sure it is easy to find the information on you that you want to be found.
With a clear, consistent, compelling and constant message. People have not got time to figure you out so make it easy for them.
3) Build your personal brand around something
Not lots of different things – the aim is to get recognised and remembered. You need to understand what you stand for – in relation to how that adds value.
4) To manage how you show up online and those first impressions optimize your digital presence.
Start by owning your name domain, have a personal website and create your social accounts (LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook). Even if you do not want to use use them initially – grab your name on each of these sites.
5) Keep it real by finding authentic ways to show your personality
BE REAL – embrace your quirks and have the confidence to be an original.
6) Keep it live
By consistently moulding and curating your narrative rather than letting it take on a life of its own.
7) Create fresh content
LinkedIn posts and comments, a personal blog, guest blog, write for trade publications, publish on Medium, launch a Substack Newsletter, record a Podcast or be a guest, create videos for YouTube, answer questions on Quora, publish an ebook, develop an online course, showcase on SlideShare, run Webinars, build a community on Facebook or LinkedIn, organise local meetups or build a membership site.
8) Share your ideas publicly
Have a POV as an expert in your field. It has to matter to you and be insightful/ engaging/ helpful for others. The test to ask yourself is ‘Would this help me and is it actionable?’
9) Raise your Expertise profile in your sector
Associate yourself with leading organisations, professional bodies and trending causes; talk at conferences; take a leadership role in your trade association; get quoted in publications; comment on online forums, write in trade journals or get quoted on TV/ in the Media as an expert.
10) Build your network as an ongoing project
Connect one person at a time. Make it a weekly habit to meet new people for in person or virtual coffee breaks. Ask other people to make introductions, find ways to help others and constantly strengthen your connections by giving more than you get.
11) Identify the stakeholders/ influencers within your field that can help you.
Find the people you want to know and who can help you progress. As you reach out to them get clear on your ‘why’ and think through how you could help/ add value for them first. Find ways to introduce others and get known for connecting people and ideas.
There are so many options to build your brand – pick a few and start sowing some seeds.