I would like to thank Jason Jacobsohn for contributing this guest post, as I’m away on vacation. His work also appears in Personal Branding Magazine and has great networking advice to share on his blog. Jason is a seasoned networker who believes in relationship building as a key component to business success. He enjoys helping others succeed by making introductions, planning events, and sharing resources. In addition, Jacobsohn enthusiastically shares resources with his network through his e-mail newsletter, “Network Your Way to Success,” and Jacobsohn.com, a comprehensive business and networking resources Web site. Further, he shares an additional perspective through his blog, NetworkingInsight.com.
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Developing your own unique personal brand is very important for business and personal success. Without properly branding yourself, you may get lost in the sea of people. Think about the successful people in the world who have developed an expertise while branding themselves. What names come to mind? Martha Stewart, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Donald Trump, etc.
Below are 13 important drivers that will help you to develop your own unique brand.
- Develop a subject matter expertise – Start with a passion, know all there is to know about the subject, and become the go to person for this topic.
- Write articles – Take the time to write and publish articles discussing your area of expertise.
- Speak to groups – Demonstrate your expertise by talking to business associations and corporations.
- Publish a blog – Set up your own blog to further demonstrate your expertise.
- Set up a personal website – Set up a personal Website so you can provide additional value and have a place for your articles. I have done this with Jacobsohn.com.
- Create a personal email –Set up a personal email that is easily remembered and allows people to contact you regardless of your job.
- Create personal note cards – Buy note cards with your name so you can send handwritten notes that are professional.
- Prepare a personal introduction – Spend the time putting together a personal introduction about yourself so when you meet people or introduce yourself in groups, you can effectively and professionally tell people about yourself.
- Focus on your appearance – Figure out a way to have your own signature look whether it is a special nametag or piece of clothing. Either way, make sure that you look professional at all times.
- Create your own nametag – It is a good idea to develop your own unique nametag so you stand out at events. Also, if an event doesn’t hand out nametags, then you will have your own to wear.
- Carry a nice pen – Accessories are also an important component to your image so buy a special pen that you only use for networking. You can make it unique but make sure it is still professional so it stands out when meeting people.
- Develop a unique email signature – Make sure that you include appropriate information in your email signature such as Website, blog, LinkedIn profile, or tag line. Every email that is sent out should include this information, which will reinforce your brand to people each time.
- Portray a good demeanor – If you are not a genuine person, then all of your efforts will not pay off. Make sure that you are nice, help people, and follow through. You want people to remember you positively.
As you probably noticed, all of the tips above focus on “you”, not your company. If you develop your brand effectively, then your network will always remember you over your employer. With relationship building, this is very important so you can build long-term and sustainable relationships.
