When you think about strong branding, what comes to mind? A list of popular companies? Some high selling products, maybe? There are many sources of branding out there, but often the most important brand to market is overlooked: your personal brand.

Whether you love them or hate them, the Kardashians are a testament to the powerful effects of strong personal branding. Before you head out on your next job search, start your own business, or work on advancing your career, read over these tips on developing your personal brand. We can’t promise they’ll turn you into a millionaire like Kim K., but they will set you on the path to success.

Position Yourself

As with any marketing strategy, you need a strong position before you go to market. This involves identifying your niche or specialty. Sure you may have a college degree from a great school, but so does one-third of the U.S. population. Do you have a special certification that is uncommon? How about unique work experience? Research what is needed in your desired field, know what your target audience is searching for and use those skills as your selling point, rather than just your diploma.

Get Social

Presence on social media is essential in today’s digital age. While it’s tempting to let your LinkedIn profile fall to the wayside when you’re no longer searching for a career, keeping a professional and up-to-date page is critical.

Maintain a cohesive voice across all social media platforms. Just as brands have guidelines to stay uniform and recognizable, so should your online content. This doesn’t mean maintaining a profile on every channel. Research which channels best fit your professional brand to maximize your return.

Create Engaging Content

This goes hand-in-hand with your social media presence. Invest time in sharing relevant articles or writing your own blog posts. The more engaging content you have, the further up in search engine results you’ll appear.

Further your reach by guest blogging or getting your articles published. A great resource is HARO (Help a Reporter Out). List yourself as a source and you’ll be contacted by a journalist if you expertise matches what is needed for an upcoming story.

Network Network Network

Although sometimes seen as more of a burden than a benefit, networking is a direct way to market yourself and your brand. People do business with those they trust. Don’t fret; networking doesn’t have to involve a business lunch or large conference. Volunteer in your community or create an internship position at your workplace.

Invest In Your Brand

Just as a company invests money for research and development of a new product, you need to invest in yourself. You don’t have to spend large sums of money to see improvement.

• Read a book related to your industry (we have some great suggestions).
• Get a certification related to your field of work.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and news.  
• Improve your public speaking skills with a speaking coach.

Marketing yourself and managing your personal brand is the best investment you can make for your career. Looking for help branding your business or developing a personal brand? Give us a call.