Building Your Personal Brand
Working as an executive recruiter in the enterprise risk management and decision analytics industry, I’ve seen men and women try a variety of tactics to get their names out in the world and become known. The outlandishness of these tactics usually correlates with the state of the economy.
In the 21st century, methods for becoming “known” have drastically changed. It’s no longer about landing the perfect job with benefits and a 401k. It’s very much become about building your own personal brand to not only land your dream job or reach your sales goals, but to get a book deal or become a widely sought after public speaker as well. Google searches have replaced classified ads, and LinkedIn has basically abolished the resumé.
Building a personal brand is essential for CEOs and corporate executives. With so many options for doing this, it can get pretty overwhelming. Here are a few tips from experts on what it takes to build a strong personal brand. Continue reading...
Be Specific
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” Lily Tomlin
The first thing you’ve got to address when building your personal brand is your niche. We’ve all heard people say, “I’m a jack of all trades.” But they often forget to add, “master of none.” Even if you are well versed on a plethora of really interesting topics, it makes you less credible when you try to put them all out there. Pick a focus point and stick to it.
Become a Thought Leader (Not an Expert)
Part of the reason that being specific is so important, is that it helps you to become a thought leader. You do not have to be an expert. Nobody really cares how many degrees you have or how many hours of continuing education you’ve conquered. Your public just wants to know that what you’re pedaling makes a difference to them or impacts their bottom line. Share your knowledge, not your expertise.
Share Your Personal Narrative (Or Make One Up)
In the age of social media everybody has a story, or at least they pretend to. It shows that you are a real person and not a carbon copy. Be as authentic as possible, and if you’re left thinking, “I don’t have anything interesting to say,” (which is the case for many) hire someone to help you figure out what your story is! It’s really just a matter of spinning it in an interesting direction.
Get Social
This is a big one, and if you started a Facebook page or a LinkedIn profile a few years ago and have forgotten the password, it’s time to remember it. If you’re not on social media, you basically cease to exist. Maintaining a strong presence on social media is what fortifies your personal brand and keeps your name in the mix. Look at the Donald, to most people he’s just ranting on Twitter. But why did he start Tweeting in the first place? He’s really just trying to build and maintain a personal brand; and he’s been wildly effective in doing so no matter how controversial his tirades may be.
Things can get messy when it comes to social media. After all, there’s a lot of noise out there in cyberspace. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter? Most social media experts suggest you pick one network to focus on, instead of spreading yourself too thin and putting more garbage out there that no one will listen too. Building your personal brand is about quality, not quantity. Social media is the best medium for sharing your industry knowledge and getting more people on your personal bandwagon.
Looking to make some changes in 2018? See how Nations Executive Search Group Inc. could help you take the next logical step in your career!
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Nation's Executive Search Group is sought out by leaders in Enterprise Risk Management, Marketing Services and Decision Analytics for mission critical sales and marketing leadership talent.
For more information, email or call Rob at (410) 827-0180, rmilner@nesgroup.net.
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