The term ‘branding’ has often been associated purely with business; we think of brands in relation to products, services and companies. Today, however, nearly every successful individual has their own personal brand – whether realising so or not. The question is no longer “do I have a personal brand?”, but “do I choose to create my brand or let it be created for me?”

So what is personal branding? Personal branding is the art of self-packaging yourself.  Your brand is how you appear to the world – so naturally having a strong, memorable brand rather than a dull, uninteresting one is important.

The point in thinking about yourself as a ‘brand’ isn’t to create an alter-ego called a ‘personal brand’ that presents a super-human, polished persona of the real you. No – the point is to become authentic  in who you are and  intentional  about how you tell your story. Here’s how:

Know Yourself

Your brand should be a reflection of who you are. What do you value? What do you believe? What are you passionate about? Why? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Always remember that people connect with other people – real people. Don’t build your brand on a fake persona – build it around your true self. Ultimately, personal branding is about understanding who you are and sharing that person with the world.

Tell Your Story

Find ways to tell your story in a meaningful and human manner. Tell it as best you can at this time. Be intimately acquainted with your unique story… your ‘why’. My latest book Being Real will help you discover how to connect with yourself, understand and share your story.

Build Your Online Presence

How do you come across online? You should be monitoring this on an ongoing basis. Do you have social media profiles? Do they present you in the best light possible and make you look professional? Are you using high-quality professional photography? Are you interacting with others and sharing their content? Do you have a personal website? This is one of the best ways to increase your authority and become more recognised. Start simple with a short bio and links to your social platforms, then grow from there.