If you were to start building your personal brand from 0, what would be the first thing you would do?
In the time it will take you to answer this question, tens of thousands of individuals worldwide are embarking on their personal branding journeys. The internet provides an unparalleled opportunity for anyone to wield broadcasting media power, showcasing their value and problem-solving abilities to a global audience.
Permission isn’t required to cultivate your own audience and build your brand. Here are TWO OF THE FASTEST WAYS to kickstart your efforts, and I’m not simply reiterating the obvious; it’s something you need to hear again!
Define Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP):
Before delving into branding activities, take the time to pinpoint what distinguishes you from others in your field or vertical. Yes, those valuable skills you have matter, but that is NOR YOUR STARTING POINT!!
What’s even more crucial—and irreplicable—are your experiences and perspectives. So, it’s imperative to define them clearly.
Many individuals struggle with this. I know because I’ve helped really great humans from all different walks of life. Regardless of their level of success, the struggle is real and not because they’re unaware of their uniqueness, but due to getting caught up in their own thoughts, tangled in confusion about the how, and apprehensive about potential missteps.
Emotional baggage from past experiences often clouds their ability to articulate clearly. This is precisely why I write a simple 32-page guide, “The Distinction Factor”—to help navigate the obstacles you’ve put in front of yourself and attain the clarity needed to start from scratch or reshape the messaging.
It’s an oxymoron to say “establish” because you already have an online presence, whether you acknowledge it or not. Merely opening a social media profile establishes a persona brand for you. Take ownership of it.
Create professional profiles on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, tailored to your target audience. Make sure your profiles resonate with your personal brand and regularly share content that reflects your expertise and passions.
LinkedIn, in particular, is a treasure trove of opportunities, yet many fail to capitalize on them due to improper follow-up.
I LOVE LINKEDIN.
I connect and use the video feature within… Use LinkedIn messaging as a platform for your follow-up video emails. After connecting with someone on LinkedIn or engaging in a conversation, send a personalized message expressing your interest and follow it up with a video email. This approach adds a personal touch to your communication and increases the likelihood of getting noticed and remembered.
I reached out to Brian and asked him to connect. The request and messaging were all about him and his iOT expertise and the fact that I genuinely wanted to know more about his area of expertise. I knew in advance there was a synergy with another company I was working with, and was knowledgeable in the area of iOT I could add value and because I had consumed his content, I knew that we were aligned around our values of connection and being really good humans first.
So I showed up accordingly.
I didn’t wait until I ‘looked right’ for the opportunity, or mulled over how was I going to approach Brian, who is much more successful than I am. I wanted to learn from him and I wanted to show up unscripted and ‘real in the moment’ – those who wait — fail.
I took immediate action when he responded – that meant early in the morning… and Brian gave me a clue ‘Time is our most precious commodity’ which meant i better treat his time with respect!
Two weeks later, we were on a call together talking about his investment portfolio and about all the brands he works with and more specifically learning, getting to know each other, and how we could help serve each other.
Build relationships with others.
Engage with their content, participate in relevant discussions, and seek opportunities for collaboration.
Take action.
Plant seeds.
Show up real.
Build relationships.
Serve others.
This not only helps you expand your reach but also strengthens your credibility and leverages the greatest tool you have that you are afraid to explore #belongonomics. ( yes shamelessly, my next book – sign up here for a pre-release copy – so you too can learn the fastest and most effective ways to build profitable business relationships – relationship capital.)
By following these tips and staying consistent in your efforts, you can start crafting a strong personal brand from ‘scratch.’
Remember that building a personal brand is a marathon, not a sprint, so be patient and persistent in your efforts.
Love,
Lisa
