Photo by: Tyler Nix via Unsplash
Blog by Sonam Saran
When you hear the word “brand”, what is the first thought that comes to your mind? Most people think of company and product relationships – take Apple for example. However, a brand can be anything; even you as an individual. This is what we refer to as a “personal brand”.
Understanding your personal brand is useful for a variety of reasons. For instance, it can help grow your business or social media following. It can also help you understand who you are as a professional, which better communicates your value and uniqueness to the people you meet. When you are able to clearly and confidently articulate who you are, people will have an easier time envisioning what your personal brand is.
So how can you find and build your personal brand?
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Write down 3 core values that represent yourself.
Breaking down who you are with three strong characteristics will enable you to convey your personality through your branding. Part of how people perceive you is based on what they already know of you and what you share with them. That is why it is important to reflect on who you are as an individual so that you can reach your target audience. You do not want to lose yourself by trying to appeal to everyone. Staying true to yourself will set you apart from everyone else.
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Pick 2 social media outlets to focus on.
Limiting your social media platforms is effective because you can brand yourself through one outlet that offers high value and one outlet that offers high engagement.
First, choose a long-form platform that adds high value for your audience. Ultimately, this will allow you to add depth to your content through lengthier posts. A few great examples include blogs, Youtube, Facebook, and Soundcloud (podcasts).
Next, choose a high-form platform that will increase engagement with your following. Instagram and Twitter are great tools for these types of social interactions. This allows you to build your relationships with your followers through shorter, everyday posts.
Focusing your efforts on two main social media outlets will enable you to create a clean ecosystem amongst your following; as you’re providing your followers two main places to “live” where you can then build a community from. This also avoids making your followers feel pushed into every digital space offered out there.
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Be clear and consistent.
Know how to describe your personal brand in a short and sweet way. This is accomplished by being clear on the purpose of your brand, followed by being consistent with your content.
Since consistency is key, your content should maintain a fluid formatting structure. This helps your brand become easily recognizable with your following and potential audience. An example of this would be consistent colour schemes, fonts, and graphics in your social media posts.
To summarize, personal branding should be an authentic and professional representation of yourself. Not only will you be able to grow your social media following or business, but you will also be able to find your niche by targeting like-minded people. By following the three steps mentioned above, you will be able to build your personal brand in no time. Good luck!