If you don’t show up on Google, you don’t exist – Daniel Choudry.
Many people think that personal branding is just for celebrities such as Jose Chameleon, Beyoncé or the Late Mowzey Radio (RIP) and some prominent business and civic leaders living within us; yet every one of us is a brand.
Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others. As a brand, we can leverage the same strategies that make these celebrities or corporate brands appeal to others. We can build brand equity& superiority just like them. In this life, we are often rewarded in direct proportion to the value our brands holds.
To build this powerful brand does not begin after we finish University education but rather starts right from when we are young at elementary education level.
If you can flash back to your elementary school days, you will remember how some of your peers were more recognized; more appreciated, more loved than the rest. They were the famous one, the ones who were very confident; the ones that took leadership positions and a lot more that you can remember! Do you think that was by accident? No, it wasn’t; these individuals understood the value of confidence and the value of becoming recognizable within that community. Possibly you still remember them by names today; and if they made right choices with their career, then they might still be the famous lads today.
As a University scholar; your role must be beyond excelling in the assessment exams and scoring the highest CGPA but have little to No recognizable traits that position you in the memories of your peers ten years from now. Your brand (how you market yourself) should be in a way that makes your peers appreciate your strong points (an expressive communicator, an exciting public speaker, a leader, a great resource in discussion groups) and so on. Ultimately after the University; it’s not your grades that will be remembered (as much as getting those high grades is significant for career placement), but your recognizable traits that leaves a substantial mark on your peers which they can remember ten years after your University years.
So having understood the value of building a strong brand; what do you need to do to develop your personal Brand?
- DISCOVER YOUR BRAND! WHO ARE YOU?
Brand discovery is about figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life…
It involves
- Setting goals; what do you want out of life? Be it in career, relationships, business, and societal involvement. Set yourself clear goals and then become the person that can attract those things you desire to have.
- Writing down a mission; where are you going? What is that ultimate happy place where you will feel fulfilled and contented with your contribution to yourself, your family and your community? Is the way you are living now going to help you attain your Life’s mission. I would highly encourage you to read more about life mission and ensure you build your brand around becoming that kind of person who attracts your life’s mission/purpose.
- Vision; what is the Ultimate Prize. How does that Ultimate point of Bliss look for you regarding influence in your community, your country, your continent and the World over? Personally, my Vision is to touch the lives positively of at least 2 Billion people minimum with my purpose and work on Earth as long as God gives me a long life especially in the World of selling their brand, ideas, and products.
- Personal brand statement. That unique few words that govern your daily works and life. I am the Ultimate Salesman/Sales Warrior. Everything I do is to dominate this territory of selling and have the World benefit from my rich wealth of experience and knowledge in this field.
Questions for you
- What are your goals?
- What makes you unique?
- What are your passions?
- How are you currently perceived?
- How are you perceived in your personal relationships?
- What do your online profiles say about you?
- What does Google say about you?
- What do you want to achieve?
- What is your industry sector you intend to make your career in?
- What is your market and target audience for your brand in your career line?
- CREATE YOUR BRAND & STAND OUT!
Come up with marketing tools to promote and make your brand visible.The sum of all the marketing material you should develop for your brand is called a Personal Branding Toolkit.
This kit consists of the following elements that you can use to highlight your brand and allow people to view what you’re about easily: Business Cards, Email address, Hardcover profile, DVD pitch about your strength, LinkedIn profile, and so much more. Ensure your brand makes the right kind of Noise for the Universe to be drawn to it.
Questions for you
- Create your new professional photos for your new personal brand.
- How can you show your knowledge and story online?
- What name and slogan do you want to be known as?
- How will you stand out both online and physically within the community you belong?
- What is your strategy and long-term goal in regards to your brand?
- CREATE YOUR TOOLS: THE KIT
- Business card:
It doesn’t matter if you’re a college student, a University student, CEO, or a consultant; everyone should have his or her business card. The card should contain your picture, your brand statement, as well as your *preferred* contact information and corporate logo if necessary, and you got one.
- Resume/cover letter/references document:
These are typical documents that you need for applying for jobs and when you go on interviews.
Be sure to prioritize each document with information custom to the target position. Take your resume online and add social features to it to make the Resume of a Superman, promoting your brand to the world and making it shareable.
- Blog/website:
You need to own yourname.com or a website that aligns with your name in some fashion. As a University student; it’s so important that you start building your online community presence and value proposition. Today, top recruiters first look for you online before they even consider looking at the physical credentials that you have sent to them seeking opportunities for work. Be present online and be seen doing some thinking and putting your thoughts on any topic of interest on your website or blog post which you can personally create.
Depending on who you are, how much time you have on your hands and if you can accept criticism, you should either start a blog or stick with a static homepage.
Those who blog will have stronger assets than those who don’t because blogs rank higher in search engines and lend more to your expertise and interest areas over time. It’s a great place to refer people to check out your thought process.
- Facebook profile:
Over 1 billion people have patterns, but almost none of them have branded themselves properly using this medium. Be sure to include a Facebook picture of just you, without any obscene gestures or unnecessary vodka bottles.
Also, input your work experience and fill out your profile, while turning on the privacy options that disable the ability for people to tag you in pictures and videos (allowing people to see the ones tagged of you).
Facebook is an excellent platform for you to create and make an impact in your community. As you interface with this medium, ensure you are churning out positive content that makes the World a better place. Often we redundantly use this platform to post nonsensical content. Always remember; People buy you first before they buy what you have to offer. If I personally go to your Facebook page and realize you are redundant with your post, the chance of you impressing me is gone. Make your social media presence count.
You can visit and like my page to learn a few things at Daniel Choudry Pacooto
- Twitter profile:
Your Twitter profile should have an avatar/link that is carved out of your Facebook picture and used in your LinkedIn profile for consistency purposes. You need to use a distinct background, fill out your profile and include a link to either your blog or LinkedIn profile.
Even at University now; your brand matters, so you must begin building it the way you want the World to receive you. Do not compromise because you “think” you are still young and have a lot of time! Twitter has some incredible potential employers who you can follow and engage in opportunities. Ensure you learn how to tweet and tag and generate organic followership to your page. All these you can learn. Check out my twitter handle @choudrydaniels
- Video resume:
A video resume is a short video of you talking about why you are the best for a specific job opportunity. You get about a minute or so to communicate your brand and can send the link, once you upload it to YouTube, to hiring managers. And this can start for you right now. The phone cameras today are beautiful and can record for you a fantastic video for a start. Begin practicing it now and get ahead of the game
- Wardrobe:
Your personal style is tangible and is extremely important for standing out from the crowd. Select clothing that best represents you because it will be viewable through your pictures/avatars online, as well as when you meet people in reality. Look the part that gives your personal brand the highest mileage.
- Email address:
Don’t overlook your email address as not being a significant part of your toolkit. Most people use email overall social networks, and when you connect with someone on a social network, you are notified via email, so get used to it.
Your email address poses a great opportunity for your brand. I recommend using Gmail because of the acceptance of Google and since GTalk allows you to form tighter relationships with others. For your address, use “[email protected].”
Questions for you
- Are you going to be online?
- Are you going to be at networking events?
- Where does your personal brand need to communicate to get the most impact?
- Who can you interact with online?
- CREATE YOUR CONTENT: COMMUNICATE
What’s next?
After you spend the time on these parts of your personal branding toolkit, it’s time to showcase it to the world, especially your target audience.
Don’t be fooled by the myth that if you build it, they will come. Unless you’re the luckiest person on earth, you’ll have to communicate everything you’ve created to others.
Task for you
Create a quick, simple, and memorable statement describing who you are and what you have to offer.
Pick 2-3 social platforms and post that quick CV on it.
Each sphere adds to your brand and personal reputation.
Create original content that expresses your personal brand online and on social media.
Thank you and wishing you the best!
Daniel Choudry P. is an International Sales Expert, Author of Best Selling Sales Books and the Founder of Daniel Choudry Sales Institute where he trains people sales skills and gets them job opportunities in the Corporate World or help their businesses generate Revenue.
You can get in touch with him on [email protected]; www.dcsalesinstitute.co.ug
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