What is A Personal Brand?
A personal brand can be in any industry or niche. You don’t even have to be a big celebrity to have a personal brand. Your name can still mean a lot to a specific target audience that would support anything you do. In order to uncover ways to build a personal brand, you first need to be clear about what a personal brand is. Below is a quote that sums it up nicely.
“Your personal brand is a promise to your clients… a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability.” ~ Jason Hartman
Below are some personal brand examples from very successful thought leaders as well easy tips that you can start implementing today to build a personal brand.
Personal Brand Examples
1.) Oprah Winfrey: The talk show host, producer, actress, author and philanthropist is arguably #1 out of all the personal brand examples. She has taken it to a level that most people would only dream of achieving.
2.) Grant Cardone: He once quoted the best advice he was ever given from his mom that “The best investment you will ever make is in yourself.” Although people say both positive and negative things about him, the real estate mogul is today a thought leader in sales, a renowned speaker and best selling author.
3.) Joe Rogan: The TV and podcast host started his career as a comedian. The Joe Rogan Experience has now gradually become one of the world’s most valuable podcasts featuring the most interesting interviews from a variety of guests and topics. As a result of his commitment to creating high quality and valuable content, he has now signed an exclusive multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Spotify.
4.) Gary Vee: In the advertising and media industry, Gary Vee has built a world class personal brand. He is a renowned speaker, author and entrepreneur of VaynerMedia. An advertising agency that serves fortune 500 companies. He has his own podcast and often stresses the importance of content in building a strong brand.
5.) Neil Patel: In the Digital marketing and SEO space, Neil Patel is definitely among the top 10. Today he is a New York Times best selling author, and top influencer recognized by Forbes and Wall Street Journal. Every piece of content he releases is golden.
What other personal brand examples can you think of? Below are some ways to get on the right track.
Ways to Build A Personal Brand
1.) Consistently Create Valuable Content.
Content is King. Content marketing is something that all personal brands must commit to but is often taken for granted. Build your personal brand by creating content that is designed to attract your ideal customer. You can also use storytelling to amplify your message and build more engagement with your audience.
Educate people with new ideas and perspectives and this would position you as an authority in your field. There are many ways to create content from ebooks to blogs, vlogs, podcasts, articles, posts or even memes. Content can be educational, emotional, motivational or just funny. Sending regular newsletters have also proven to boost customer retention. If you are considering releasing a book as part of your brand building strategy, Click this link to a previous article where I talk about the benefits of self-publishing.
2.) Have A Distinct Look and Sound
Your brands look and feel is important for creating that memorable first impression or WOW effect. Use the power of design to convey your unique personal brand personality and differentiate it from others. Your content must also be consistent with your brands unique look and feel.
Design has to be looked at holistically from your logo to your website, video and marketing collateral because everything contributes to the overall impression or experience you are trying to create. If you have had the same visual branding for up to seven years or more then it is probably time for a refresh to keep your personal brand modern and dynamic. Also, don’t forget about how your brand sounds. How would you describe your tone-of-voice? Does it sound consistent and authentic?
3.) Focus On Longevity
Focus on building a reputation among a well defined target audience. Reputational capital is the sense of trust that your brand builds up over time. People buy from people that they know, like and trust so focus on building both trust and rapport.
Rapport is a bond between a customer and a brand when there is a sense of similarity or mutual understanding. So customers have to feel like you connect with them in ways that others can’t. There are many ways to build trust over the long term. Consider offering free exclusive information or gifts with no strings attached. You can also offer rewards for loyal customers.
4.) Social Proof and Referrals
Online sharing can also help you build trust. Star ratings and reviews are very effective for building a personal brand. If your brand is referred to by a friend or family member, that is way more valuable than an advertiser saying the same thing. Even a simple like, share or follow can build credibility for your brand if they accumulate over time.
Encourage previous customers to leave testimonials or referrals that describe the successful outcome you helped them achieve. This way a prospect can have a better picture in their mind of the value your brand can create for them.
5.) Collaborate With Experts
Collaborate with experts in not only your profession or niche but in similar niches and industries that cater to a similar customer base as you. You can also collaborate with experts to develop valuable content through methods like blogging podcasts and webinars. By building relationships with other experts you can attract customers to your personal brand through mutually beneficial relationships with trusted partners.
In conclusion, your personal brand is your promise. By consistently creating valuable content, maintaining a distinct look and sound, focusing on longevity, building social proof and collaborating with other experts, you can develop a personal brand over time. If you found this article helpful then you may also enjoy my previous one with 10 branding mistakes that entrepreneurs can avoid.
