3 Easy But Effective Ways To Boost Your Personal Brand

These days, it’s not enough to just be good at what you’re doing., you also need to make sure people, particularly your target customers or desired employers know that you exist.

How can you do that? By improving your personal brand!

According to Wikipedia, personal branding is “the conscious and intentional effort to create and influence public perception of an individual by positioning them as an authority in their industry”. To simplify, it’s about putting your best foot forward to show other people that you are an expert in your chosen field.

If you haven’t thought about this before and want to get started, here are some easy but effective personal branding tips that you can work on today:

1: Define your identity.

Okay, this may not be the easiest tip on the list, but knowing who you are and how to tell your story are foundations of your personal brand. Without it, how will you introduce yourself to your peers or a prospective client?

If you haven’t already, you can do this by writing things down about yourself: your work experience in your chosen field, your skills, and any positive traits that other people compliment you on. It’s also important to include what you want to be known for.

By having a cohesive story, you will have an easier time deciding what actions to take that will help further your personal brand.

2: Establish and grow your presence on one or two social media platforms.

Because everyone is online these days, the internet is the best place to make yourself known to your desired customers or dream companies. However, participating in too many social media platforms can be counter-productive and lead to burnout.

The best thing to do, then, is to pick one or two social media platforms where you think you can reach your target audience. For example, if you’re an artist who wants to get hired for art commissions, then you can show off your artwork on Instagram and Pinterest, maybe even Tumblr.

Of course, making yourself known doesn’t stop at posting about your work. Make time to engage with other people on the platform; it’s also a good way to showcase your personality!

3: Use professional photos on your website and social media pages.

Now that you have your story pinned down and know where to reach your desired audience, then it’s time to take a look at your social media profile and website. On these platforms, the first thing that people usually take notice are your pictures.

Your profile picture should reflect your personal brand. The same goes for the photos used on your website. Your followers may not notice your fashionable dress, your beautiful makeup, or chic office if the quality of the photo itself--like the lighting or the resolution--is not up to par with your aesthetic.

The best way to make sure you have great photos is to hire a professional headshot photographer to take photos of you and your business. It doesn’t have to be a huge photoshoot like you see in the magazines; you can have your photos done in your own home, office, or even at your favourite park or cafe. There is a growing number of professionals offering personal brand photography. There might be at least one near you.

Ready to tell your story?

You know you’re good at what you do. It would be a waste if you don’t share your talents and skills, no matter how specific or “boring” it may seem. We hope these tips will help you get started on your professional journey.