The Essential Elements for your Personal Brand
Whether you are the face of your company or an expert in your industry, your personal brand is how others perceive you and can open the door to thought leadership opportunities such as public speaking, book deals and media attention.
When it comes to your personal brand, your online presence tells the story of who you are and how knowledgeable you are about your industry. Think of CEOs like Elon Musk of Tesla, or Sarah Blakely of Spanx. Both have leveraged the success of their businesses to create a personal brand to connect with their audiences and create a culture around their mission.
Your personal brand has the opportunity to build community and connection with the work that you do. When it comes to building your personal brand, here are a few essential elements to create:
Linkedin Profile
Is your Linkedin profile up-to-date with a tagline that accurately reflects the value you create and who you serve? Having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile is a great way for prospects and others to find you. Your Linkedin profile should include a high-quality image of yourself as well as an informative section that showcases your accomplishments and results you get for others. Be sure to include your previous work experience like a resume. LinkedIn also allows for others to leave recommendations and allows you to request recommendations from your followers. When it comes to posting and sharing content, sharing trends and knowledge specific to your industry will help elevate you as a thought leader.
Personal Bio
Do you have an up-to-date bio written and ready to share? This is the number one thing you’ll be asked for if you are selected for a media interview or a public speaking event. A personal bio should be more than just a condensed resume that lists off your accomplishments. It should tell a story about who you are and the experiences that have informed your success. We recommend having two versions of your bio: one in third person and one in first person. It’s also important to have a longer bio as well as a short, condensed version.
Your Digital Footprint
Do you know what comes up if you Google yourself? If you don’t like the results, consider ways to populate search results with content that reflects your expertise and accomplishments. One way to do this is by creating your own blog posts and SEO-optimized content for higher search result rankings. You can also collaborate with other high-ranking websites to create blog posts or be featured in an interview. Posting videos on Youtube is another way to share your knowledge and expertise for those who are searching for the topics you have authority on. It’s important to consistently share your knowledge across social media channels to build an audience.
Quality Photos and Headshots
Investing in a personal brand photo shoot can give you high quality images that you can use across all platforms including social media and your website. Having professional images that reflect who you are and what you do is a great way to increase your visibility and get noticed.
Pitch yourself
Do you have a speaker reel or press kit? This collateral will package your knowledge and expertise so you can get in front of opportunities and organizations that can elevate you to new audiences. This should be a well-designed packet that includes your bio, accomplishments and multimedia items that reflect the work you’ve done. It’s recommended that you provide speaking topics as well as areas of expertise that you can contribute to. Then identify opportunities and organizations in your industry that are a good match.
An effective marketing strategy for your personal brand requires a plan across all digital platforms. Increase your exposure online with our social media guide here.
