Selling Brand You - Part 1.

What is a personal brand, and why do you need one?

A brand is something that is clearly identifiable and that separates one thing from another. It can be anything, from symbols, names and designs, to reputation, emotional connotations and employees, and so much more. Think about some of the most famous brands, like Google, McDonalds, Microsoft or Coca Cola: they are all clearly distinguishable from their competitors, and they are instantly recognisable for people of all ages, all over the world, not just because they are so established, but also because they have a clear and strong brand identity.

Business-level branding is very common, but nowadays it is something that is becoming just as important on a personal level. By building up a strong personal brand, you open up so many valuable business opportunities, which can then lead to great things, such as new career opportunities, more clients and/or contracts for your current company, and recognition within your space. 

There are certain qualities that every single one of us would like to have spring immediately to the minds of others upon hearing our names. Whether these are professional or personal qualities, the key to forging these associations is all about presenting yourself in the same way consistently.

If you are searching for a new job, you want any potential new bosses at new companies to associate your personal brand with key attributes that they both want and need on their team.

If you are hoping to increase your client base or your sales for your company, you want prospective clients to link your personal brand with long-term success, satisfaction and a feeling of trust.

There is no room to be another face in the crowd in today’s professional landscape. You need to separate yourself from the competition and be the most appealing option for your target audience. How do you achieve this? By creating a great personal brand.

The creation of a personal brand begins with creating a personal vision. You are the only one who can determine how you would like your life to go, and whilst you can’t have complete control over every single aspect, you can create a long-term goal, with a plan of how to get there, and work on achieving your vision. Think about the most important elements, for both your professional and personal life: what is going to give you the most happiness and satisfaction?

Once you have done this, you should consider who your target audience is, in terms of potential employers, mentors or clients. You should like to build a vast profile of people, who can all be assets to you in different ways. Having a clear idea of the exact person you are selling will make it much easier for you to communicate and sell yourself and your personal brand.

So, how do you go about creating your personal brand when job hunting?

This is something we are going to explore and that we will be posting content on over the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for the next part: we will be talking about creating a strong online profile and how this can help establish your personal brand.