creating & managing your personal brand

Creating & ManagingYour Personal Brand

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL BRAND?• Your brand encompasses all aspects of your image and reputation.

• It includes personal communications, online presence, word of mouth, etc.

• A strong brand conveys a cohesive message about the unique value you have to offer.

MESSAGEPRESENCE

IMAGE &REPUTATION

WHY IS A PERSONAL BRAND IMPORTANT?

• Provides a consistent experience

• Highlights your unique strengths

• Helps you stand out in the crowd

Creating Your Brand

ASSESS YOURSELF• Identify what you have to offer to an employer

• Look beyond job descriptions to projects and accomplishments

• Ask trusted colleagues for their reflections

• Identify five to seven key qualities

• Don’t be modest!

strengths

AUDIENCEneeds

uniquequalities

focus your brand here

IDENTIFY DIFFERENTIATING VALUE• Start with your strengths

• Consider what’s valuable to your target audience

• Identify qualities other candidates don’t have

• Focus your brand message on that area of intersection

• Articulate your value in terms of benefits to your audience

DEVELOP YOUR BRAND IMAGE• Make sure your resume & cover letter clearly communicate your brand value

• Invest in an attractive resume layout, personal logo and business card

• Set up professional profiles on Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter

• Consider a personal portfolio website or blog

• Check search engine results and eliminate hits that don’t support your brand

MAINTAIN Your Brand

BE CONSISTENTLY VISIBLE• Go to networking events & follow up via email and thank you cards

• Post accomplishments & interesting content on social media

• Engage online with colleagues & thought leaders in your field

• Post weekly tips and ideas to maintain your online presence

LOOK FOR NEW CHANNELS• Write articles for local papers and company newsletters

• Seek out opportunities to speak at conferences and events

• Take on new projects and let people know about your successes

Personal Branding: DO’s• Be authentic and positive

• Share links and comments on topics in your field

• Use tools like HootSuite to write and pre-post content

• Keep an eye on your online reputation by setting up a Google alert on your name

Personal Branding: DON’Ts• Don’t complain about past employers or colleagues

• Don’t automatically repost high volume of another site’s content to your Twitter

• Don’t overlook replies, retweets, and other opportunities to converse

• Don’t deluge target contacts—know how much contact is too much

IN SUMMARYLook at every interaction as an opportunity to express your unique value.

Above all, focus on results and deliver high quality work!