4 Tips For Building Your Own Personal Brand

If someone asked you to name a brand, your initial instinct would be to think of J. Crew or Pottery Barn.  However, this is a trick question.  One of the most important brands is your own.  Brands do not have to be limited to being commercial, but can be personal; they define who you are.

What is a personal brand?  Jeff Bezos from Amazon.com explains that it is “what people say about you when you leave the room.”  It’s how people recognize you as (kind, diligent, hardworking, etc.), and whether you know it or not, you’ve been building your personal brand for years now. 

From a PR standpoint, our job is to achieve or maintain a certain image for a client.  Developing your own brand is no different.  Today, a personal brand is essential to launching and furthering your career. 

Here are some basic tips to keep in mind when creating your brand: 

1.    Find your niche. What’s your specialty?  What do you have to offer?  By discovering what you’re interested in, it will add to your identity and allow people to see what you’re passionate about.  Think of terms that could describe you (are you organized, out-going, preppy?), they will help you define your brand.

2.    Determine your goals.  What do you want to gain from personal branding?  Be specific with ideas:  Obtain a job in the fashion industry?  Attract more clients?  Find your focus and stick with it.  Narrowing down what you want will create set priorities to focus on when figuring out and launching your brand. 

3.    Be online.  Let’s face it, if you’re not on either Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, do you actually exist?  With billions of users using these accounts, it’s important to be on social media.  Having an online presence is essential to establishing your personal brand.  It’s how to market not only yourself but your business.     

4.    Be yourself.  It’s hard to fake a brand, especially if it’s your own.  Show your true colors and the right people will come to you.  Pretending to be something you’re not does not get you anywhere.    

Building a brand is a constantly evolving yet rewarding process. Whatever changes or challenges you may face, remember to stay true to who you are.  In the end, it will all be worth it and success will follow.

How would you describe your personal brand?  Tell us by commenting below! 

Written by Chloe Slavin of Rebecca Adele PR & Events