Personal branding involves a word, name, phrase or symbol that represents you as though you were a product. It is the packaging and presentation of yourself, via body, appearance, content, and communication to create a unique impression and communicate your value.
The concept of brand is rooted in marketing and the packaging of goods. The term has recently been applied to human beings due to the increasing importance of marketing ourselves in current economic times.
Personal branding can help you market yourself to employers who are hiring
Ask those who know you best – colleagues, friends, family or clients – for their honest assessment of you. What comes to mind first? What defines you? The true measure of your personal brand is revealed in what they have to say about you.
In terms of building your professional reputation, your personal brand should be linked with your value proposition. For example, if you are starting a coaching career, you may chose to call yourself Coach Class and use a motto Turning Student Athletes into Citizens, whereas your competitor might go with Coach V (for Victory) and a motto of Win At All Costs! The first sends a message, or brand promise, that is about integrity and overall personal development through sport. This might appeal to parents of student athletes in particular. The second sends a message of winning as the most important value and appeals to an intense competitive drive rather than personal development.
These examples represent two different approaches to personal branding. Each seeks to create a unique and positive impression that gives them an advantage over the competition.
Business profiles showcase personal branding approaches
Ultimately brand is about communication and building relationships. If you think of yourself as a product or service, ask yourself the following questions:
- What are my strengths or greatest employment assets?
- What is my brand promise or greatest value proposition to prospective employers?
- How can I show this or back this up (e.g. work samples, videos of presentations, etc.)?
- How can I communicate this in the most compelling way to my desired audience?
Establishing a personal brand can be a good approach to showcasing yourself in today's marketplace and showing how you are different from other job seekers. You should consider what others have done in the way of creative approaches. Their content is showcased in their professional profiles in a compelling manner that leaves a strong impression and conveys information quickly.
Resource:
Mashable: Personal Branding
Michael Firth - I'm a career expert, consultant, teacher and social entrepreneur. I have recently served as Ask the Expert blogger on ...
