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Tips for building an authentic Personal Brand

Everybody has a personal brand. Personal branding is essentially the ongoing process of establishing a desired image or impression of yourself in the minds of others. The way people portray themselves on social media alone is evidence of the power of personal branding. To take hold of your personal brand, you need to establish and promote what it is you stand for. Personal branding can transform your relationships and your ability to connect with likeminded individuals. You have the ultimate power to handcraft your own story.

It should be an extension of your personality

Your personal brand should be an extension of your personality. It should represent who you are as a person and what you stand for. In this sense, your personal brand is your ideal self. It is what you want others to remember you for. Your personal brand is your unique set of skills and experiences. So, what is your purpose and what do you want to share with others? Effective personal branding will successfully differentiate you from others in your field.

Keep it authentic

Don’t try to change who you are. The most effective way to create and maintain a personal branding strategy is to create a true and authentic narrative. Not only should you create a story around your brand that your audience can engage with but you should be actively living your brand and encompassing it in its entirety. “Your personal brand should follow you everywhere you go. It needs to be an authentic manifestation of who you are and amplify what you believe” (Aaron Orendorff). We don’t believe in ‘faking it till you make it’. Moreover, we believe that you should embrace who you are, with your quirks and differences, and let your personality do the talking.

Be consistent

Most importantly, you need to be consistent with your personal branding strategy. If you maintain a positive approach, and seek to help others, you will see that your personal brand grows tremendously. Be consistent, be confident and live your brand.

Create that killer elevator pitch

Creating a killer elevator pitch is a simple yet effective way to show off your personal brand. Come up with a short but punchy elevator to introduce yourself at events and meetings. You should mention who you are, what you are looking to achieve and maybe add in a quirky yet memorable fact about yourself. In perfecting your unique elevator pitch, you enable people to recognise what it is you stand for. This enables you to leave a lasting impression on those you are making connections with.

Conclusion

Essentially, it is the story that people tell when you’re not in the room. A personal brand cannot be crafted overnight. Moreover, it is a lifelong project. You have the power to cultivate your personal brand. Contact us at [email protected] for more career tips.