Whether you’re an accountant, entrepreneur, or writer, any type of professional can benefit from building a personal brand.
When creating your personal brand, the most important (but most difficult) step is to define yourself as a professional. Your personal brand isn’t just something you use to market yourself to employers or other professionals; it’s who you are as a person 24/7. This is why it’s important to focus on qualities and characteristics you want to be recognized for as a professional.
As you begin to think about what you want your personal brand to say, here are five questions to ask yourself:
1. What are my strengths?
A key component of a strong personal brand is to have confidence in your strengths. Your strengths and talents will make your personal brand shine as you build a name for yourself in your industry.
To discover your strengths, take a look at what excites you most about your career, what you do differently from everyone else, and where you’ve experienced the most success. These strengths will help you define who you are as a professional.
2. What are my passions?
Pinpointing your passions can be difficult, but it’s not impossible if you set aside time for self reflection.
To discover your passions, think about what you love doing on the weekends or in your free time. For example, if you love writing and cooking, these are unique qualities you can use to define your personal brand.
3. What are my past accomplishments?
Your personal brand is the story about yourself that you want to share with the world. To illustrate your story, past accomplishments are a great way to show people what you have the ability to do.
4. How do I want others to describe me?
Take a moment to think about your favorite brand. Whether it’s a beverage, clothing line, or musician, focus on the feelings that come to mind when you think about that particular brand.
When you think about a brand you like, it evokes positive feelings and words. As you develop your personal brand, think about the feelings and words you want your colleagues and coworkers to think of when they think about you.
For example, if you want people to think of you as an ambitious, kind, and talented professional, those are feelings you should incorporate into your brand. You can portray this brand through personality, how you talk to people, and how you engage with people online.
5. What makes me unique?
Everyone has a unique skill, opinion, or experience to offer. As you think about what makes you unique, use these qualities as an element of your personal brand. For example, if you’re a graphic designer who loves to travel, incorporate both of those elements into your brand.
Remember, your personal brand is who you are as a person. When it comes to creating a personal brand, stick to your passions and focus on what you want to be recognized for. These things will help you create a genuine personal brand that people will want to get to know.
