So, how do you define your personal brand? Last month we talked about why personal branding is as important as company branding. This is something we’re really passionate about and we love discussing this with our clients. However, for some people it may be tricky to define their personal brand. Where do you even begin?! 

Creating a strong and approachable company brand is essential for every business- However, building a credible personal brand is also really important for the success of your business. You are at the heart of the company, and people choose to work with you because of who you are as an individual too. That’s why it’s so important to define and work on your individual/personal brand. Customers want authenticity and something honest and memorable. This is best delivered by a person. 

So, how do you define your personal brand?

Firstly, how would you describe yourself in one sentence?

What are your priorities and main traits? What do you get most passionate about? If you have to come up with a headline for your CV, what would this be? What’s your USP? What are you great at? For example, you may value collaborative environments or experimental working styles or you might be a real entrepreneur. It may be that you’re really conscientious and reliable. Or perhaps you like to challenge the status quo and keep your co-workers on their toes. Sally would describe herself as ‘an inclusive and creative marketer who strives to help non-marketers succeed’. Vittoria would describe herself as ‘a driven and focussed digital marketer with an ambition for original and optimised campaigns’. How would you or your colleagues describe you? 

What’s your authentic message?

Have you got one clear message that you’d like to convey to your colleagues, your current boss, your next boss or your investor? We are passionate about making marketing accessible for everyone and we always say we want to ‘remove the mystery of marketing’. What is your message and is it genuine and stripped of jargon? An easy way to think about it is – what do you want to be known for? Are you a technical expert? Are you a great team player? Or maybe you’re a great teacher? Ask your colleagues if you’re not quite sure – there will be a common theme.

What are your goals?

This is super important. Do you want to be the Head of your department in 5 years? Do you want to start managing staff in the next year? Would you like to manage the team budget in the next 6 months? What are your short-term and long-term goals? We suggest 2-3 of each and make them specific. It’ll then help you build a plan and aim for success! Your personal development plan is paramount. 

How can you grow your network (and your power to influence)?

So, you’ve worked out your personal brand. You know what you stand for, how you want to be remembered and what your core message is. You even have a vague plan of where you want to be in the next few years. But – how are you going to get there? Make a plan of internal and external events to attend in the next few months and the next year. Scope out internal colleagues that you can meet for inspiration and advice. Get an external mentor to give you a fresh perspective. Become committed to reading up about your sector/your specialist skill/a developing technology. Start a new night course to get some new qualifications on your CV and show your commitment to the cause. Be driven and widen your network! 

How can you continuously develop?

You may be very confident in terms of your personal brand and where you want to be. This is an evolving piece and should be constantly reviewed, refreshed and tweaked. Your brand will have to develop with the world around you and as your industry or specialism develops. It’s essential that you have a development plan to ensure you’re top of your game and you aren’t getting too comfortable. We are very experienced marketers – but we still go to lunchtime webinars, conferences and read a ton of industry articles every week. We also make sure we ask for feedback often – from both our clients and our trusted network. It’s important to always be self-aware and to realise that you aren’t perfect, but there are always ways you can evolve and move forward. We are always learning and it’s important to be open to change. 

We’re sure you’re all really busy and for some of you, this might not feel like a priority. We urge you to prioritise this though. This is important if you run your own business AND if you work for a company. Think of it as the framework for your career – your brand sets the tone and helps people understand and engage with you quickly. If you’re confident with your brand you’ll inspire and empower those around you – and you might even help others find out what really drives them and what they’re ‘all about’. 

What next?

Do you need help defining your personal brand? Maybe you need help with internal exposure or you need help with networking your brand in new circles? We are experienced with creating networking strategies for individuals and we can help you refine your personal brand. Why not sign up for one of our free 20-minute consultations? We’d love to chat!