What Is Personal Branding? Here’s Why It’s So Important - Aarushi Kapoor
“Believe it or not, personal branding is here to stay and will only become stronger with time.”
Similarly, as branding, personal branding is a process of creating an identity for yourself. It informs your audience of who you are, what you stand for, and why they should even pay attention to you. In the course of developing your own personal brand, it can be tough because it begs the question, why me? But that is just it. In order to make yourself more appealing, it is crucial to have a distinct value that you strongly stand by and want to express, because it will soon be something you are known for.
For example, Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, not a lot of people understand him but that’s part of his brand. He is infamous for his tweets, one tweet about Dogecoin, made people invest in it, making them millionaires in a week. No one questioned it because it’s Elon Musk. Not to mention, Tesla is one of the first automotive companies to have created an auto-pilot function in a car. His personal branding is “no boundaries”. He makes the impossible become possible based on his beliefs and that’s why currently, he owns Twitter. Nobody saw it coming but that’s Elon Musk.
“In an era where people’s attention spans are getting shorter by the minute, the need to make an impression is more important than ever. And the best way to do this is by creating a solid and memorable brand identity.”
When you make a brand out of yourself, you create trust, loyalty, and existence. The stronger the branding, the more influential you will be. The article points out 4 reasons of why someone should have personal branding;
1. Helps One Stand Out From The Crowd
“A personal brand results from what others think and say about you when you’re not in the room. It is your reputation, and it can make or break your career.”
When you create personal branding for yourself, people will look you up on search engines. Especially if you were applying to a job, with a solid personal brand, you will be a memorable candidate.
2. Leads To Opportunity
“A personal brand is the unique combination of skills and experiences that make you who you are. It’s what makes you unique and sets you apart from everyone else.”
When you put yourself out there, you can speak on issues you are passionate about, for example, recycling. People with similar interests and who can relate to what you say will most likely bring up opportunities to collaborate and help you gain more attention.
3. Your Audience Will Trust You More
“When people feel like they know who you are and what you stand for, they’re more likely to trust you. That’s because they feel like they have a relationship with you.”
Relatable content is a way to speak with your audience. When you are able to share and be consistent with the message, people are more likely to pay attention and trust you. You will probably be the first person they check with for updates because they trust your judgment and opinions.
4. People Will Always Screen You Online
“Personal branding can help you control the narrative about yourself and introduce yourself in the best light possible. It’s also a way to stand out from the competition.”
In today’s digital age, Google is accessible to everyone. If you need something you Google it. If you want to find out about someone, you Google them. So it is essential to be aware of how you are presented online because you are going to be defined by what pops up.
“One good place to start is by cleaning up your social media accounts. You can control what your reputation is online, and so you don’t want anything you post on social media to negatively impact your presence.”
That being said, personal branding can only be successful if you have a plan and the determination to achieve it. It is not an easy process and there are no shortcuts but Rome wasn’t built in a day. When you have a clear and purposeful strategy and a consistent marketing plan, your audience will grow to trust you.
Connect with Aarushi on LinkedIn.
