This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you make a purchase.
If you’ve spent time working in business, the chances are that you’ll already know how to build a brand. Content marketing, good public relations, and social media all play a role in building a modern brand – but how do you build your own brand?
More people than ever are turning to the internet in an ever-competitive job market to build their own brand, giving them a competitive edge and allowing them to win freelance contracts.
Read also: How to make money with your car delivering groceries
Why Should You Brand Yourself?
Making a splash in the digital sphere can be difficult – you only need to look at LinkedIn and search for digital marketers in your local area to see how competitive the job market can be. By taking some time out to bolster your brand persona and improve your reputation, you’ll be able to build trust not only for your business but for any other professional ventures. Whether that involves freelancing, launching a start-up, or securing a promotion at work.
The more credibility you can build around your name, the more likely you are to attract potential business leads, build relationships with professionals, and expand your network.
Be Yourself
It’s easy to bend the truth when it comes to branding your business, but for personal branding, it’s important, to be honest. People connect with people, so you should try to be authentic on social media and across all digital marketing and branding opportunities. The last thing you’d want is to be called out at an interview or public event and have to backtrack on something you’ve said in the past. Not only could this prevent you from building trust and securing important business leads, but it also reflects badly on your company or your personal, professional ventures.
Be Prepared To Learn
There are millions of experts in the industry, and while it’s fine to brand yourself as one if you have the figures to back it up, you should always be prepared to work hard and learn. It’s important to remember that you’ll never know everything about your industry – even if you’re a professional – so you should take the time to read blogs, follow other professionals and grow and develop as you work to protect your brand and future business opportunities.
If you fail to keep your head in the game, you’ll find it difficult to convince people that you know your stuff – and you could be outshined by somebody else in the industry. Develop new skills, expand your knowledge and learn – the more you know, the easier you’ll find it to build relationships, stand out from the crowd and succeed in the marketplace.
Content Is King
The adage of ‘content is king’ definitely reigns true when it comes to digital marketing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it to build your own brand. Writing articles about your expertise is a great way of building your reputation within your industry – publish content on your blog, or choose to guest post on other websites. Alternatively, you could use social networks such as LinkedIn Pulse and Medium to spread the word.
On social media, try to be active and post content so that your audience has something to read. If you’re struggling for time, share third-party blogs, and give your opinions on trending industry news – the more engaged and active you are within your community and the more content you produce, the higher your chances of being seen by both clients and future employers. You’ll also build more followers and grow authority in the process.
Speak At Events
If you have something particularly unique to share, speaking at events is a great way of building your personal brand. Take part in networking events, accept invitations to business lunches, and be prepared to work hard. Make sure you have a speaker profile on your website, where you can talk about your professional history and share industry topics – the more open you are to opportunities, the more likely you are to get them.
Building your own brand doesn’t have to be difficult – all you need is your personality, your professional experience, and some patience. Remember to follow industry blogs, focus on producing well-written and engaging content, and network with like-minded professionals who can help you step in the right direction.