Whether you’re trying to succeed as an executive or trying to start your own business, a lot of your success will rely on strategic branding. From musicians to CEOs to top-tier consultants, it’s critical to build and maintain consistent branding in order to present yourself to the world.
Individuals with branding are immediately understandable. Their message and mission are clear. People know what to expect and what value they’ll gain from them. Here are five of the best tips for branding yourself:
1. Recognize what makes you distinct and run with it.
Conan O’Brien’s hair. Thom Yorke’s eye. Jay Leno’s chin. These are distinct features that are now inseparable from the people themselves.
Whatever you have that makes you unique, it helps to have people recognize you by it. Being recognizable is the first step – now as you tie in the rest of your identity, it gives people a visual cue that helps them remember what you’re all about.
2. Summarize what’s unique about your mission in a single phrase or sentence.
If it takes you a couple of paragraphs to express what you’re put here on earth to do, focus on making it more concise. Your elevator pitch needs to stand out from others and express the value you provide. For example, a coder who’s exceptionally gifted and friendly might call himself “The Tom Hanks of Coding.” It’s catchy, quick, appealing, and descriptive.
3. Use social media wisely.
Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and Facebook are huge players in branding and make you vastly more visible. Learn about how to use them properly. Establish a tone and stick to it, and put out relatable content that adds value to the viewer, whether it be blogs or photos. Interact with others in your industry.
If people look you up and find strong branding online, they’ll naturally assume you’re worth taking seriously.
4. Learn how to present.
What do Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have in common? Okay, a lot of things. But one of the most important is that they will both go down in history as strong presenters. Watch them speak about their brands and you can hardly resist jumping on board.
This same skill translates to group and one-on-one meetings. If you’re not a strong presenter, take some courses on public speaking and presentation. Keep your branding front and center – your goal is to have people associate a certain phrase or idea with you.
5. Networking is a continuous strategic goal.
Never stop making connections with new friends, industry players, leaders, and up-and-comers. As a brand manager, you can create a detailed plan laying out steps for success. Interact with others on social media, and, whenever possible, in person. Try to establish friendships and be generous with your time.
Work Cited
Kaputa, Catherine. “5 Tips For Branding Yourself For Success.†Huffpost.Com, 2017, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-tips-for-branding-yourself-for-success_b_9748590.
