Why personal branding is no longer a luxury but a necessity
We keep hearing about the importance of Personal Branding these days. First, let’s just recap on what we mean when we talk about our personal branding. Jeff Bezos once famously said “your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” With this in mind, your personal brand is how you present yourself to others, who you are, what you represent and your unique skills.
Whether you’ve put much thought into it or not, everyone has a personal brand, especially in the age of the gig economy. If you have an online presence or provide services where you meet people face-to-face, you have a personal brand. But developing a strong personal brand doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time to build, especially as you want to represent who you are – your authentic self and story. There’s no point building your brand on what you think others want you to be. This is not sustainable and won’t lead to genuine connections or success.
The masters of personal branding
Consider some of the world’s biggest entrepreneurs, take for example, Richard Branson. In terms of presence and branding you’d struggle to find someone who doesn’t know who he is and what he stands for. Virgin is everywhere and he is very much the face of his company.
Then consider someone like Kylie Jenner, who is now the youngest self-made billionaire ever, at age 21. In the last three years alone, she has built her personal brand online so significantly that she has amassed 110 million social media followers (and therefore potential customers). So when she launched Kylie Cosmetics, within the first 6 weeks, it sold $54.5 million worth of products. Apparently, she just did what she always does, posting regularly on her social media accounts promoting her herself and selling her products. Since she already had a huge following and powerful Personal Brand, people wanted to buy what she was selling. Kylie Jenner is one of the prime examples of just how important and powerful personal branding is in today’s digital age. Anything is possible, for anyone.
Why is personal branding so important to you right now?
Whether you are an entrepreneur aiming high and looking to start a billion-dollar empire, a CEO who would like to be known for creating a thriving company culture that sets him and the company apart or looking to change careers, raise your profile or make more of an impact, there are a number of reasons why your personal brand is something you need to be considering very carefully right now.
The idea of ‘branding’ used to be associated with companies, primarily their marketing and reputation. But in today’s world, we have to create our own brand and market ourselves if we hope to stand out and succeed – it builds trust and showcases your skills and talent and if done well, will set you apart. This is where personal branding comes in.
Whether you’re applying for a job, going on a date, learning new skills and reinventing yourself, networking or building a business it’s vital that you have a strong personal brand that authentically reflects who you are and what you represent. Nowadays, a quick google search of your name can throw up a whole host of information, content and profiles, so it’s important that you consider what your online presence says about you.
What’s more, with the gig economy continuing to grow, competition for roles and clients is becoming more fierce than ever. An effective personal brand can set you apart from the competition, establish credibility and help you to succeed in both your personal and professional life. It helps you to stand out to employers, build trust with clients and meet like-minded people who share your goals and values.
You don’t need to be as widely recognised as Richard Branson or Kylie Jenner to have achieved an effective personal brand. Everyone has a personal brand whether they focus on it or not, so wouldn’t you like to decide how you’re represented and the impact you make? It’s ever-evolving as are you, so keep building your brand, otherwise, you might find yourself struggling to stand out in a crowded digital world.
Now you’re aware of the importance of personal branding, it’s time to work on yours! Start your journey to building a strong brand and amplify your visibility with expert personal branding consultants in London.
To build a dynamic, authentic personal or company brand that will ensure you stand out in the digital crowd and make the impact you want, email: info@kmtransformational.com or call: +44 (0) 207 971 7718. We can help.
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