4 Key Steps In Personal Branding Journey
I have a question for you today. Would you like more people to know about you and your work & attract awesome opportunities by being yourself?
If the answer to this question was yes, I have good news for you. It can be your reality. The only thing you need is to master the art of building your personal brand.
I bet you you've heard this term going around before. Personal branding is a very important thing, and while many people like to talk about its importance, not many people explain how to grow your personal brand successfully.
Well, today, you're in good hands as I have four key steps that will help you grow to grow a successful personal brand in no time.
Let's jump in.
4 Things You Can Do Right Now To Start Building a Personal Brand That Stands Out
#1: Begin with 1-2 social media platforms.
Yes, I know you feel so excited to take over the world & make the most of all social media platforms RIGHT NOW. But… such enthusiasm will disappear quickly as you really have to create a ton of content & invest a lot of time to grow on different platforms.
As someone who is just starting out, you're probably the only person working on your personal brand, so it might be a good idea to take it slow and expand as you go.
So, instead of trying to be everywhere, pick 1 or 2 social media platforms that would be best for your personal brand and start building from there.
Here comes my second step about how to know which platform to choose...
#2: Choose social media platforms wisely.
There are so many social media platforms that even I can't probably name all of them to you. And all of them have different purposes and audiences, so you really need to do your research and find the right social media platform for your personal brand.
It's not very hard to do that, and I recommend you focus on the biggest platforms to start with. There is no point in going to Tumblr and trying to build your personal brand there when not many people are going on the platform anymore.
Here is a list of a few most popular platforms you can choose from: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Pinterest.
These platforms are the social media giants, with most people being on them and using them daily, so you need to choose 1 or 2 to start with from this list.
Now, before you choose, you have to know what platform is the best for what type of business and niche, otherwise you're not going to see a lot of results.
So, LinkedIn is the best platform for B2B (business-to-business) type of people. So if you're into an industry that is B2B, you should really invest your time in building credibility on LinkedIn as it is the best platform for you.
Facebook is a great way to connect with many people at once as they offer this amazing opportunity to create groups where you can foster a more personalized relationship with your audience. It's versatile for both B2B and B2C (business-to-customer) businesses.
Youtube and Pinterest can be very great for content that people are searching for constantly, tips, and advice on various topics. These two platforms are more of search engines than social media networks, so if you're into creating searchable content, try growing there.
Instagram is a visual platform, and Twitter is word focus platforms, so depending on which are your strengths and which industry you're on, their platforms are great.
If you're a freelance photographer, you might go with Instagram over Twitter, as you get a chance to really showcase your work, where if you're a freelance writer, Twitter would be a better platform for you as the writing community is very strong there and you communicate via words and not images.
You see, there are so many choices for different people and different personal brands, so be wise when you're choosing the right platform for you.
#3: Niche down to stand out.
You've probably heard this saying a million times already, but riches are in the niches. You want to be known as an expert in a niche if you want to grow a strong personal brand quickly.
Imagine you are going on a date for a special occasion. Would you rather choose the best Mexican restaurant in town or a buffet which offers a bit of everything? Most likely, you, just like me, will choose the best of some kind… Mexican, sushi, Italian,... Such restaurants are not for masses, but they aim to be the best in their chosen niche.
The same goes for someone choosing a professional to work with on a project they need to accomplish. People tend to find specialists who know their niche very well over general practitioners.
Also, being the best & most known in a smaller niche works because you can choose who you want to target (example - Mexican food lovers), concentrate on providing fewer options & becoming #1 offer in your niche.
And once you're #1 in your niche and have authority, you can start branching out into something broader if you desire.
#4: Build connections.
You're not going to go far in life or in business, without making meaningful connections. We're social beings. We need other people.
So, don't just sit and hope to be noticed. Interact with people on social media and events you attend, build community social media, offer to help somebody you would like to become friends with, pitch yourself for podcasts/blog posts, etc.
This way you'll have a bigger chance to get 'lucky' and not only make friendships that might last for many years but even grow your personal brand faster.
Just don't forget good manners - first give, then ask. Opportunities are unlikely to just fall in your hands - go out and get them!
Final thoughts
A personal brand is everything when it comes to your career. It helps you establish yourself, get better jobs and clients, and it ensures that your rates are much higher than the average person in your industry.
So, don't sleep on it and start working on building your personal brand! If you're still not sure where to start and what to do, I have a free personal branding blueprint that will help you get started.
And once you're ready to begin building your personal brand, then book a complimentary discovery call with me, and we will discuss what steps you should take next to build a profitable personal brand online.
There are so many exciting opportunities still waiting for you.