Personal branding has moved beyond colourful bow ties
The application of marketing terminology to individuals is growing in popularity. There is even a ‘Personal Branding Network’ on LinkedIn. Why? Simply because this way of promoting products and services works and why wouldn’t it? It has the best brains in marketing communication around the globe concentrating on it!
In the West, ‘time famine’ is a recognised malaise. People do not have the time to check out new providers. They would much rather stay with the ones they trust. At work a person’s reputation is all-important in a world where trust is in short supply.
This is doubly true in the current economic climate. People are uneasy about making the wrong decision and putting their own reputation at risk. Going with the tried and tested is becoming even more prevalent.
From an individual point of view it is no longer true that if you are good at what you do and have a great track record in your chosen field of work then you are safe in your job.
Visibility is increasingly important. Our research from the last recession (and equally true today) has shown that those who promote themselves best keep their jobs, whereas those who think their reputation speaks for itself will often find themselves out of work!
Networking is vital. You must ensure everyone is aware of your talents, not just within your organisation but also in your sector. There is a paramount need to build the three Rs: recognition, reputation and reach.
The world is getting smaller all the time. You can happily communicate with anyone anywhere in the world. Social networking sites make it even easier to do so. It is, however, becoming increasingly difficult to rely on old ways of promoting yourself. That colourful bow tie just isn’t enough to get you noticed anymore!
Being aware of your own brand – what you have to offer and your value to others – is vitally important to keep ahead of the game. And it isn’t about simply deciding on a brand that you think will work for you. The importance of trust means that our personal brands must be developed from our authentic selves.
So how do you develop a brand?
In Brand You we give you both the process and the exercises to start to understand the real, authentic you. Once you are clear about who you are, we show you how to stay visible by marketing yourself both internally and externally. This includes discovering which archetype fits you best.
