Have you considered building a personal brand? Company branding has been around for decades but personal branding is relatively new. The invention of the internet gave us the ability to connect with anyone in the world. This ability has allowed people to build a personal brand that represents what they stand for. There are a number of benefits one may realize from building a personal brand and the possibilities are truly endless.
What is Personal Branding?
To start things off, I think it’s best to define what personal branding is exactly. Personal branding is the process of establishing a persona expressing your values, beliefs, goals, and purpose. What you portray will build your reputation into a solid brand.
Consider some of the brands you know. Dodge for example has built their brand around performance vehicles which provide their customers with an exhilarating experience. Bose brands themselves as high quality, powerful speakers that provide customers with an enjoyable experience.
Just like a business builds their brand, a personal brand can be built to present who you are and what you stand for. Keeping this in mind will be critical as you interact with people and earn the reputation you desire.
1. You’re More Visible
The most prominent benefit of personal branding would be visibility. A well established personal brand will get you seen around the world. This visibility will make you more accessible and available for opportunities that may come your way.
Imagine the following two scenarios: Two marketing professionals are looking to fill a high paying role at a world renowned marketing agency. Their resumes are similar in nature, but one has built a personal brand. They write articles, upload videos, teach courses, and give immense value to the marketing community. Who do you think would get the job offer?…pretty easy to guess. Share your expertise with the world and you’ll gain plenty of opportunities.
2. You Build Authority
A successful personal brand builds authority. This authority translates into industry recognition as one of the best in the field. With that comes any number of opportunities to further your career. References, referrals, testimonials, job offers, speaking engagements, and many other benefits will begin to come your way.
However, having superior knowledge in your field isn’t enough, you need to market yourself as an authority. Who would you rather learn or purchase products/services from, a random person online or someone with strong brand recognition? Help people solve their problems by creating a personal brand expressing your knowledge and authority.
3. Build Your Network
Tim Sanders states, “your network is your net worth”. By building a strong personal brand and growing your fan base, you are connected to thousands of people. Eventually, this becomes a major asset that you can leverage to your advantage.
Maybe you want to start building a side hustle. Maybe you lost your job and want to start a business. Or maybe you created a new product you want to sell. Having access to a large network can bring you all of these things with ease.
Imagine for a moment that you just released a new online course, helping others learn your expertise. You sell it for $250 and sell 2,000 courses in your first year. That’s $500,000 and only made possible by your established network. Had you released the course without that network and it would have been a flop. Build your network through personal branding and your net worth will grow in time.
4. Higher Perceived Value
The combination of visibility and authority can lead to a higher perceived value. The expectation is that you are an expert who is very busy and has limited availability. This follows the general rule of supply and demand. You only have time for a select few clients and they will pay a premium for what you have to offer. Even if you happen to be free, your established personal brand will raise your perceived value.
In reality, you may have skills that are comparable to other working professional in your field. However, the fact that you have created a personal brand makes you stand out among the others. People are willing to pay more when they perceive you to be among the best.
5. Unlimited Potential
One of the most exciting aspects of building a personal brand is the unlimited potential. You never know what can come from your efforts. As a general employee without a personal brand, you eventually hit a ceiling. The company dictates your financial worth and you’re stuck there for the rest of your life. Establishing a personal brand helps you break through that barrier as your perceived value increases.
Income aside, there are any number of opportunities that could arise. Maybe you get invited to speak on television. You get invited to speak on a number of podcasts. You get to meet and collaborate with other top professionals in your industry. The possibilities are truly endless and could have a major impact on your life….the potential is there.
Building Your Personal Brand
As you can see, personal branding has the potential to completely change your life. People have been working under their employer’s brand as nameless employees for years. The only option for them is to climb the corporate ladder until they hit a financial ceiling.
By building your own personal brand, you are essentially creating opportunity. Therefore, you aren’t a nameless employee but an authoritative leader in your space who’s value has grown beyond that of a regular employee. By presenting yourself as a valuable asset, you can start commanding higher compensation and taking projects of your choosing. Don’t let employers choose your worth, build your personal brand and tell clients your worth.
What are your thoughts? Have you started creating a personal brand? Leave any comments or questions below and share your brand if you’ve already started!
