PERSONAL BRANDING FOR BUSINESS GROWTH
Is there ever a good time to start Personal Branding? Especially during a pandemic that has turned the world upside down? The best time is the present. Whether you are a CXO/ in career transition/ starting a new company or running your own business; your Personal Brand is one of your biggest strengths and most vulnerable assets.
"WORK UNTIL YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF"
In a country with over 1.3 Billion people, your reputation and managing how you’re perceived can become your biggest challenge. Most people don’t give it a moment's thought and let others define them. While others' opinion of you shouldn’t define or stop you from going after or doing what you want; setting and controlling the narrative is definitely in your own hands.
The current pandemic that we all find ourselves in, has forced many changes - The value of 'Face' time (physical presence) has skyrocketed. In this time where handshakes are forbidden and maintaining 6 feet of social distance are now the new normal, how can you build your personal brand?
In this new normal, the strategies used towards building a personal brand that relied heavily on the face-to-face; look-them-in-the-eye approach has changed. It’s not business as usual anymore; the methods applied for personal branding have adapted too. Whether you leverage a passive or aggressive approach to personal branding, now is the time to either begin or up the ante
Below is road map & tactics towards accelerating your personal brand in the new normal
"BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN"
VALUES
Authenticity is critical in these current difficult times. Identify your own unique value proposition and leverage your strengths to communicate with authenticity.
Fearless is part of the personally branding territory. Reach out to people frequently; make new connections; nurture new friendships. Not everyone will connect with you or agree with everything you say. Discuss, Debate, Create Value, Follow up, Follow Through, Invite Questions, Share Learning and Inspire Action
Goodwill goes a long way when building a personal brand. Offer help where you can and in whatever way you can. Recognise others for their contributions, and share the spotlight. Connect the dots for everyone and build meaningful connections. Being "In Integrity" creates Goodwill.
Gratitude is probably the most understated value. Demonstrate gratitude for your successes no matter how small they may be and to the people who got you there.
"IF PEOPLE LIKE YOU THEY WILL LISTEN YOU YOU, BUT IF THEY TRUST YOU, THEY’LL DO BUSINESS WITH YOU"
Publish a Blog. Whether you publish once a month or once a week is something you should not be worried about when you start. Have a point of view on things that stem from your strengths/ passions. Create content that is relevant to your target audience. Content that educates, solves a pain point and inspires. Content that is communicated with style and class; that your audience can identify with and can understand. Remember that personal branding helps professional success.
eMail Community. Build an email community of subscribers that are interested in receiving, engaging and sharing your content with like minded people. You cannot build a personal brand without followers. Offer something of Value in exchange for an email address. Ensure to create Value while you build your Tribe.
Google It. Assess your online presence; control the narrative online as its your global digital visiting card. Invest in google search to help elevate your personal brand.
Communities for Success. Successful people associate with successful people. The company you keep says not only a lot about who you are but also what you believe in. Join forums or clubs that can benefit from your expertise and where you can add value.
LinkedIn for Networking. Choosing the right online platform to actively grow your Personal Brand is imperative. Identify the preferred platforms that are most valued and visited in your field and use them to elevate your personal brand. Facebook has its own purpose but if your looking to get more clients, grow your network, find a new job etc then channel your energy into the right platform.
Think Outside The Box. In the current environment of social distancing, it has become difficult to participate in public speaking. Create your own shows via Podcasts or even Videos. Harness the opportunities to connect with your audience; build trust and garner more followers to your tribe.
Personal Website. Build your own digital headquarters.
Create Vision Boards. The mind cannot materialise (create) what the eyes cannot see. Create a Vision Board of "The life you want to live". Look at it every day; reminding your mind of what you expect to materialise.
Seek help from a professional agency to create and manage these various mediums and platforms for you. If you need a mentor then find one who currently lives the life you aspire to have. Don’t let your personal brand become your best kept secret. Create it and Share it with the world.
Related Reading: Ways to uncover your customers true pain points, Logo Design
Trigger Worldwide is a Brand Marketing Agency, built specifically for businesses to create Sustainable Growth. Our proprietary tools and process methodologies harness Technology, Creativity & Innovation, leverage Economic Drivers and Consumer Beliefs to help businesses overcome marketing inefficiencies and achieve their Growth Agendas.
“CREATE AN INSPIRED FUTURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS”
~ Trigger Worldwide