Career
The Simple Way To Brand Yourself
This is a great way to start a new month.
Getting out in the world! An alpha female is unforgettable and almost always noticeable. Not in a loud way, but in a deliberate way. What are you saying when you walk into a room?
The objective is to be distinctive, and yet mysterious. You can be memorable, without letting the world and everybody know more than what they should about you. By controlling your image, you control how others perceive you.
That’s exactly what branding is all about—perception. Letting people see what you can offer and “sell” it. Let’s look at an example:
Average girl wants to marry wealthy man. She brands herself as a “beautiful and well put together” by wearing certain clothes, speaking a certain way, and hanging out at certain places. Altogether, these methods will make others perceive her as “rich” thus she will attract a wealthy man. Her brand is clear. She is selling her package to get the “goods and services”.
Everyone is branding themselves almost everyday via Twitter, FaceBook and other social media tools. But there’s a way you can brand yourself, the wrong way. Here’s some:
1) Leaving sexually explicit messages online under your real name
2) Misunderstanding your niche and its needs
3) Overexposing your expertise without focus, but being “everywhere and nowhere” at the same time
4) Oversharing (and too many selfies)
5) Paying too much for someone to brand you, when you can do it
So, how do you do it? Before I get there, let’s just look at point 4. The phrase “birds of a feather flock together” fits perfectly here.
If you are a creative artist, and are hanging with doctors at medical conventions, it may help you get health insurance, but not work. If you are a creative artist, hanging with other artists or joining certain organizations will attract job opportunities and solidify your brand. While branding has to do with the individual, it also has lots to do with identifying a group or way of thinking you belong to.
You can get started with branding yourself and standing out today. You don’t have to be a celebrity, wealthy, live in a certain neighborhood, or attend a certain college. The goal is to get noticed, stand out, and above others. An alpha female never blends with the crowd. If she is a brand, there are 10 others who want to be that brand. You create it, you define it.
Here are some ways you can brand your life!
Social Media
These days, with online social media it’s easy to get carried away. But have you ever thought about what kind of messages you are leaving out there?
Brand your online presence by keeping things focused on niches that relate to your profession. If you want to go on the gossip blogs, and lose your cool, then change your screen name and do not upload your photo as an avatar.
You want your online presence to point to your expertise. For example, if you are a computer network engineer, you’ll be visiting and commenting on those types of blogs and forums.
Get Published
Publish articles in areas you are interested in. If you’re a PR professional, perhaps you want to write articles about media relations and how to write a press release.
When an employer or client googles you, they’ll see you as a professional instantly, and is a great way to draw clients to you for a little side business. You may also consider writing a small, handy 10-15 page ebook.
Start A Website
Here, you can actually earn a penny for your thoughts. But these days, many bloggers are bringing in thousands a month. You can write about issues related to your career, and include your resume on your blog, too, in a section called “Hire Me!”
For example, if you are an unemployed administrative assistant, you can start a blog about work related issues and office management. Perhaps, even include a Q & A.
You can market office products, computer software, and office management systems, and get a percentage of sales while you sleep. Of course, you’d have to work on traffic and development, and The NicheBlogger, a program I signed up for, can do that.
Contribute
Leave comments on blogs and forums that represent your professional interests. Use your real name or initials. Make your comments thoughtful and helpful.
Join LinkedIn and answer user career-related questions. You’ll start to leave a professional imprint online that will work for you for years to come.
Get A Bio
Bios are not only for celebrities or executives. You should have one.
A one-page or even one paragraph summary of who are you, where you’ve been, and where you are going can work wonders. It should illustrate your career niche, and how you arrived to where you are now.
Review some professional bios online. You can find mine on Alphanista, and write your own.
MORE TIPS
Maintain Your Visibility
For those of you in journalism and PR, getting your name in the paper doesn’t hurt. Whether it’s a byline or as the subject of a story, raising your visibility can attract the eye of a VIP.
It’s a clip you can bring into an interview. It’s free and costs nothing. Search for opportunities on sites like HARO at www.helpareporter.com to get your name in the news. It automatically gives you credibility and leverage.
Get A Signature Lipstick, Color, or Style
Do you always wear crushed grape lipstick (I do!)? Do people know you for always wearing white or yellow? What about that flower or brioche you always add as a last touch to your clothes?
It’s never too late to add something to your wardrobe. What is Anna Wintour known for? Her hair. Never changed. What is Whoopi Goldberg known for? Glasses. What does Amber Rose always wear? Red lipstick. What is Michelle Obama known for? Accessories. I can go on. A signature style requires repetition and purpose. It’s never too late to get one.
Finally, take a look at your favorite celebrities whether in music, fashion or politics and figure out what makes them distinctive. You may want to use that technique at the next cocktail party you’re invited to.
Remember, branding isn’t just for work or career, it’s a way of life. If people perceive you a certain way, irregardless of the truth, you can move ahead a little quicker. Dress for success isn’t just a saying, but a way of thinking—and branding.
Originally posted 2019-12-23 08:11:43.