That's on brand...

Hello and welcome back my friends! We are getting so close to the end of our blogging journey and I will miss having an outlet every week to chat with you guys about the world of strategic communication and emerging media. I hope that you all have enjoyed it as much as I have. But, we still have a couple weeks left so let's jump into our next topic!

This week we need to talk about branding, and no I don't mean the kind you do on the farm. This branding is very specific to something we all know and love, ourselves. This week we are going to talk about personal branding and how you can make sure you're brand is on point, as the kids say.

I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review that really resonated with me. The article answers the question: What's the point of a personal brand? It says "We often confuse our reputation as our personal brand. But that’s not true. Everyone has a reputation. The first impressions you make, the relationships you form with managers and peers, and how you communicate — all of these things impact how others see you.  Your personal brand, on the other hand, is much more intentional. It is how you want people to see you." When I read that, a lightbulb sort of went off in my head. 

So many times we are so focused on what other people think of us and our reputation that we push our personal brand to the side and do not utilize it to its full potential. Our reputation is the story others tell about us, but our personal brand is the story we get to tell about ourselves. The best part of really working on your personal brand is that it can lead to a change in your reputation. The Harvard Business Review goes on to say "You have the power to define your brand by aligning your intentions with actions. That is, changing your decisions and behaviors to influence how others see you and to help them connect both emotionally and intellectually to the image you hope to portray. If that image aligns with the opportunities you want, then you are more likely to secure them." Wouldn't it be great to be in control of our own destiny? Well good news, you can be if you start focusing on building your personal brand. So, let's talk about what we need to do to build that personal brand.

First, and most importantly, you need to define what the driving force is behind your brand. What interests you? What are you proud of? What do you want to contribute to the world? This is the foundation of our personal brand. My foundation, for example, is being a mother, being a leader, and bringing innovation and creativity into spaces where they are not necessarily seen as important. These are the things that are important to me and light a spark in me both personally and professionally.

Next, you need to consider who you want to be. If you are taking the steps to create your personal brand then you are already showing the initiative to make changes in your life. To essentially form new habits to become the you that you want to be. Just like a bodybuilder won't get muscles without working out, you won't become your brand without being authentic. For example, this building block for me was simple, I want to be seen as someone who is creative, organized, and approachable. Professionally, I stay on top of tasks at work, suggest new ideas in brainstorming meetings, offer to help others when their workload is overwhelming, and keep my door open to my office so people feel that they can come in and talk to me or ask me questions. Personally, I pour myself and my energy into my kids and my event company. I spend all the way up until bed time playing with my kids without interruption, and when they go to sleep I work with clients on creating logos, social media graphics, banners, balloon arches, and entire wedding or event visions. I am harnessing all of that creativity and organization and communicating it to the people I am working with. I am creating routines and healthy habits that pair with my personal brand.

So now that you know what drives you and know who you want to be, you need to market yourself. There is no better way to market your personal brand than social media. A few weeks ago we dove a little deeper into social media on here. In the post, we talked about how social media is such an important tool for organizations, but it is an even more important tool for us as individuals. Almost everyone we know is on social media. The things we post or the comments we make need to fit our brand. In my case, my personal branding is centered around being a mother, but also having a creative outlet that lets me showcase my talents and personality. Most of my posts on social media consist of content pictures for my business and my kids. Any other posts that I make are lighthearted and fun. This is because I am cautious about protecting my personal brand. 

For example, here is one of my most recent Facebook posts. This picture of my family was taken at my daughter's first birthday party. When people see this picture, they see a visual representation of my personal brand. 

                       

Another important aspect to consider when posting on social media is that potential employers will be looking. Source Mob notes that 94% of recruiters use social media in recruiting efforts. This means that your personal brand can portray you as someone whom employers would love to have, but if your social media does not reflect that brand it is a red flag. However, not having a social media presence is also a red flag to potential employers. Dayton Daily News reported "A national survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder found that more than 57 percent of employers are less likely to interview a candidate they can’t find online. The majority of companies will dig through social profiles, but find it even more suspect if they see nothing at all." I tell you all this to remind you that yes, social media is an outlet and a place to post silly memes for former high school classmates to see and laugh at, but it is also one of the best ways to market yourself and your personal brand.

Lastly, when it comes to building your personal brand it is so important to network. Talk with people with similar interests or simply message someone who inspires you. You would be amazed at how much you will learn and grow by surrounding yourself with people who are just as driven. I have found once I started really focusing on building my personal brand, the people I started gravitating towards have all taught me something new and helped me become more well rounded as an individual. Your brand should be something that you are proud of and want to share with the world. Networking gives you that opportunity. As communicators, there are so many resources and organizations to help us network and market our personal brand. You will be amazed at what it can truly do for you. Sometimes it can even lead to a better opportunity that you would have never had, had you not put yourself out there. I say this with absolute confidence because I am living proof.

Your personal brand is your story. Written by you, told by you, lived by you. Start building it today and watch how quickly your dreams fall into place.