Time to Market the U Brand
I am often asked how an individual can brand themselves and if personal branding is as valuable as corporate branding. I usually answer ‘it can be done and yes’… however that depends on your goals, your key messages and key audience.
If you decide to go the route of Personal branding, it will single you out as an expert in your chosen field.
The fact is, personal branding is far easier than company branding. Why? Because if you believe in your talent, skills and ability – it’s much easier to sell what you believe in. Firstly, look at your image; are you portraying the image you want to your key audience? This is an important factor to look at prior to any branding or publicity campaign. As people in general tend to make an impression on what they see within the first 30 seconds. Once your image has been put in check all you have to do is market/ publicise it. How do you do that? You must be:
An Expert
It is important that you know your stuff… whatever you say or do can have implications. Also keep in mind that unless you plan to work until your last living day, it will be difficult to transition the brand to someone else. After all you are the BRAND! There can be downfalls during any transitioning. Also:
- When branding yourself you must create a strong and consistent brand.
- Strong brands are clear about who they are and what they are not; which is why branding yourself can be an easy process. You already know these things.
By branding yourself effectively you will:
- Establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field.
- Build a solid reputation within your industry.
- Increase your notoriety and improve your perceived value in the marketplace.
The key is to first establish a personal brand identity, one which sets you apart from the competition. Once you have done that focus on your key messages on who you are and what you stand for within your field. The final step is to get the word out through a variety of media channels such as writing articles, blogs and comments which are likely to be viewed by the people most likely to be interested in your message (your key audience).
The more people see your name and become aware of the benefit and knowledge that you offer, the more people will begin to seek out your services and expertise. They will identify with the ‘YOU’ brand.
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