It’s easy to overlook core aspects of your personal brand.
Why?
Well, for the same reason that Coke hires an agency to make their Super Bowl ads. Its a heck-of-a-lot easier to look at someone’s else’s personal brand and dissect it or improve it than it is our own.
True story.
To help with this, here are five questions about key aspects of your personal brand that you are probably overlooking right now.
The Right Language
We’ve talked about using the right language before. This is exceedingly important, as it says “I’m part of the club and I know what I am doing.”
Language is different in every profession and varies from company to company. Given this, it’s really important to do your research and talk with lots of people in your field and in your target audience to make certain that you are coming across as an insider.
It’s also a reminder to brush up on all your lingo before you go to an interview!
Ask yourself: What are the key phrases, vocabulary and acronyms of my industry? my position? this company?
Personalization for Every Opportunity
Your personal brand is not about you.
You need it to answer:
- Who is my audience?
- How I can help them and
- What makes me different?
If you don’t know the answer to these questions (and you don’t make them specific for each and every audience (company, hiring manager, target client), you aren’t doing your personal brand justice.
Ask yourself the three questions above. Every.Single.Time.
Your Network
Yes, your network is an integral part of your personal brand. If you aren’t thrilled with it, this is how you quickly & effectively grow your network.
Your network is the best way to get hired, find opportunities, find new clients, figure out what you want to do and be able to always land on your feet, no matter what the economy throws at you.
Ask yourself, what can I do to nourish and grow my network today?
Proof.
Most people’s personal brand’s have a lot to say. A-player’s brands have a lot to show.
Think about how you can show your skills rather than say them. For a graphic designer this might mean a beautiful website or application. For a project manager, it could mean making certain every email is precise with clear follow-through and accountability. For a marketer, it could mean showcasing your social media skills in the real world, by volunteering for a non-profit.
Ask yourself. How am I showing the skills that I have?
Your Story
Above all else, your personal brand is a story.
Stories are one of the most effective forms of social currency. They build powerful connections between ideas, people and action. They give context and robust understanding to information. They generate urgency and motivation. And, most importantly, stories create value — a lot of it.
It needs to address your future, it’s relevance to your audience, the way that you think and what makes you especially well suited to the opportunity.
Ask yourself, what makes your story stand out?
If you address these five rogue aspects of your personal brand, you are going to stand out from the crowd and achieve your objective, be that a job, a client or world domination.
