July 11, 2023
Fashion, Clothes, CUTS, Work, Brand
We live in a competitive world. And if you want to stand out among the competition, you need to learn how to brand yourself.
Your brand establishes who you are and what you stand for. And the best personal branding represents you as a whole person.
Personal branding is not the “keep your personal life out of the workplace” attitude of your parents and grandparents. It’s a focused but complete message that says: Here’s who I am inside the office. Here’s who I am outside the office. Here’s how who I am outside the office makes me better inside the office.
For example, if you’re a financial planner who races BMX bikes on the weekend, you can tie your personal and professional actions together by explaining that you’re a “strategic risk taker” and connecting that trait to a major win at work. Do that, and you’ve created a holistic brand unified around a single message.
Branding yourself is all about finding your core attributes and building your message around them. If you do it successfully, your personal branding will make you unforgettable to recruiters, colleagues, and online followers. We’ll share a six-step personal branding strategy that will help you attract more supporters and grow your career.
This is how to brand yourself.
We live in a competitive world. And if you want to stand out among the competition, you need to learn how to brand yourself.
Your brand establishes who you are and what you stand for. And the best personal branding represents you as a whole person.
Personal branding is not the “keep your personal life out of the workplace” attitude of your parents and grandparents. It’s a focused but complete message that says: Here’s who I am inside the office. Here’s who I am outside the office. Here’s how who I am outside the office makes me better inside the office.
For example, if you’re a financial planner who races BMX bikes on the weekend, you can tie your personal and professional actions together by explaining that you’re a “strategic risk taker” and connecting that trait to a major win at work. Do that, and you’ve created a holistic brand unified around a single message.
Branding yourself is all about finding your core attributes and building your message around them. If you do it successfully, your personal branding will make you unforgettable to recruiters, colleagues, and online followers. We’ll share a six-step personal branding strategy that will help you attract more supporters and grow your career.
This is how to brand yourself.
You are your personal brand and your personal brand is you. So, your brand identity will connect to your personal identity. You’ll need to reflect, figure out who you are and what you have to offer, and find a way to convey that information consistently as part of both your in-person and online presence.
Here are the six steps to help you brand yourself and make your presence known:
You are your personal brand and your personal brand is you. So, your brand identity will connect to your personal identity. You’ll need to reflect, figure out who you are and what you have to offer, and find a way to convey that information consistently as part of both your in-person and online presence.
Here are the six steps to help you brand yourself and make your presence known:
Why are you creating a personal brand? Who are you hoping to attract?
Start your branding process by asking yourself these two questions. You might be creating a personal brand so you can land a new job opportunity, stand out in the job market, or establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.
You might want to speak to hiring managers in your field so you can climb that corporate ladder. Or you might want to speak to colleagues so you can start conversations about your field and share your knowledge. Or maybe you want to speak to people who are new to your field so you can serve as a mentor.
In each of those situations, you’ll speak to different target audiences, and you’ll need to talk to them differently. The way you talk to a novice is different from the way you talk to an expert.
Think about the communication channels and social media platforms that your audience uses the most — this will help you decide which social networks to create content for.
Even if you want to build your brand so you can become an influencer, you’ll need to decide who you’re trying to influence. Are you talking to fitness junkies, techies, foodies? And do the people in your target audience have novice, intermediate, or expert knowledge in the subject?
The more clearly you can define your audience, the more easily you can decide on your brand messaging.
Why are you creating a personal brand? Who are you hoping to attract?
Start your branding process by asking yourself these two questions. You might be creating a personal brand so you can land a new job opportunity, stand out in the job market, or establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.
You might want to speak to hiring managers in your field so you can climb that corporate ladder. Or you might want to speak to colleagues so you can start conversations about your field and share your knowledge. Or maybe you want to speak to people who are new to your field so you can serve as a mentor.
In each of those situations, you’ll speak to different target audiences, and you’ll need to talk to them differently. The way you talk to a novice is different from the way you talk to an expert.
Think about the communication channels and social media platforms that your audience uses the most — this will help you decide which social networks to create content for.
Even if you want to build your brand so you can become an influencer, you’ll need to decide who you’re trying to influence. Are you talking to fitness junkies, techies, foodies? And do the people in your target audience have novice, intermediate, or expert knowledge in the subject?
The more clearly you can define your audience, the more easily you can decide on your brand messaging.
You know your worth — now you have to demonstrate it to your audience. What are you bringing to the table?
Define your niche — or your area of expertise — and become a thought leader in that space. The more specific you can be about your niche, the more likely you are to get noticed. For example, there are plenty of experts in digital marketing, but there are far fewer experts in digital marketing for cryptocurrency.
Make your expertise as specific as possible. Then, build your brand story around that offering. To create a strong personal brand, always connect your message back to your brand offering. If you post pictures from an in-person networking event, you can caption the images, “Went analog today to talk about digital marketing for crypto.” Everything you present to your audience should remind them of what you bring to the table.
You know your worth — now you have to demonstrate it to your audience. What are you bringing to the table?
Define your niche — or your area of expertise — and become a thought leader in that space. The more specific you can be about your niche, the more likely you are to get noticed. For example, there are plenty of experts in digital marketing, but there are far fewer experts in digital marketing for cryptocurrency.
Make your expertise as specific as possible. Then, build your brand story around that offering. To create a strong personal brand, always connect your message back to your brand offering. If you post pictures from an in-person networking event, you can caption the images, “Went analog today to talk about digital marketing for crypto.” Everything you present to your audience should remind them of what you bring to the table.
You are your brand. What are your core values?
These could be your personal values, social causes you care about, or both. Some people value hard work and personal responsibility. Some value wit and creativity. Some value kindness and inclusivity. Pick two to three core values and make them an essential part of your brand.
If hard work is one of your core values, your social media profiles might include pictures of you on the office balcony at sunrise. When you post personal images, they can show you working equally hard at a personal goal — from fixing up your house to finally running a marathon. If you care about a social cause, you can post pictures of yourself volunteering on the weekend and joining employee resource groups at work.
Represent your core values in everything you do, and explain how those values make you better at your niche.
You are your brand. What are your core values?
These could be your personal values, social causes you care about, or both. Some people value hard work and personal responsibility. Some value wit and creativity. Some value kindness and inclusivity. Pick two to three core values and make them an essential part of your brand.
If hard work is one of your core values, your social media profiles might include pictures of you on the office balcony at sunrise. When you post personal images, they can show you working equally hard at a personal goal — from fixing up your house to finally running a marathon. If you care about a social cause, you can post pictures of yourself volunteering on the weekend and joining employee resource groups at work.
Represent your core values in everything you do, and explain how those values make you better at your niche.
Now that you’ve defined your audience and offering, and you’ve decided on the values you’re going to represent, you need a consistent look.
From a specific font to a signature color palette, creating a personal aesthetic will not only make a first impression — it will make a lasting impression.
If you have money to invest as you build a personal brand, work with a designer to decide on a color palette, font, and even a logo (which could incorporate your image or a monogram of your initials).
Reach out to a professional photographer or a friend who’s good with a camera so you can take professional photographs. Incorporate your signature colors into the photos, either through your business casual clothing or your photo backdrop. Your wardrobe will also help you communicate your personal brand, so dress for success by wearing styles that match your brand aesthetic.
Then, use the same image — whether it’s your own personal brand logo or your professional headshot — across your entire online presence from your personal website to your LinkedIn to your YouTube channel. Don’t forget about your offline branding as well. Make sure your business cards, resume, and letterhead all match your brand aesthetic. This consistency will make you instantly recognizable.
Now that you’ve defined your audience and offering, and you’ve decided on the values you’re going to represent, you need a consistent look.
From a specific font to a signature color palette, creating a personal aesthetic will not only make a first impression — it will make a lasting impression.
If you have money to invest as you build a personal brand, work with a designer to decide on a color palette, font, and even a logo (which could incorporate your image or a monogram of your initials).
Reach out to a professional photographer or a friend who’s good with a camera so you can take professional photographs. Incorporate your signature colors into the photos, either through your business casual clothing or your photo backdrop. Your wardrobe will also help you communicate your personal brand, so dress for success by wearing styles that match your brand aesthetic.
Then, use the same image — whether it’s your own personal brand logo or your professional headshot — across your entire online presence from your personal website to your LinkedIn to your YouTube channel. Don’t forget about your offline branding as well. Make sure your business cards, resume, and letterhead all match your brand aesthetic. This consistency will make you instantly recognizable.
You’ve got a consistent look, now you need to find the language that represents your brand.
Make a list of words that give the feeling you want to convey. These should be words that describe you, your values, and your offering.
It can also be helpful to make a list of juxtaposed words that you don’t like — words that you would never want to describe your brand. For example, your personal brand might be “sophisticated” but not “stuffy.” Or you might like the word “fast-paced” but not “rushed.”
Once you’ve decided on the language that describes your brand best, use it. Use it frequently and liberally. The more often you use it to describe your brand, the more often other people will use it to describe you.
Some of the most successful personal brands will also come up with catchphrases. News anchor Walter Cronkite famously ended every broadcast with "And that's the way it is." A personal catchphrase can appear in the bio on your social media accounts, the signature on your newsletter, or the sign-off of your podcast. If you choose a catchphrase and use it consistently, it will give your audience something to remember you by.
Consistency in your language is key to creating a message that resonates with your audience.
You’ve got a consistent look, now you need to find the language that represents your brand.
Make a list of words that give the feeling you want to convey. These should be words that describe you, your values, and your offering.
It can also be helpful to make a list of juxtaposed words that you don’t like — words that you would never want to describe your brand. For example, your personal brand might be “sophisticated” but not “stuffy.” Or you might like the word “fast-paced” but not “rushed.”
Once you’ve decided on the language that describes your brand best, use it. Use it frequently and liberally. The more often you use it to describe your brand, the more often other people will use it to describe you.
Some of the most successful personal brands will also come up with catchphrases. News anchor Walter Cronkite famously ended every broadcast with "And that's the way it is." A personal catchphrase can appear in the bio on your social media accounts, the signature on your newsletter, or the sign-off of your podcast. If you choose a catchphrase and use it consistently, it will give your audience something to remember you by.
Consistency in your language is key to creating a message that resonates with your audience.
Once you’ve mastered the first five steps, your brand’s foundation is built. Now, you need to deliver it to your audience to start building brand awareness. Start with your social media accounts from LinkedIn to TikTok to Twitter to Snapchat.
Also consider building a personal website, going on podcasts or YouTube channels (or starting your own), and attending networking events. The more touch points you have, the more quickly you can build your personal brand and get the attention of your target audience. So, stay engaged. Post regularly, use hashtags your audience is engaging with, and be part of the conversation.
As long as you keep your brand consistent and you make your brand offering clear, your audience will come.
Once you’ve mastered the first five steps, your brand’s foundation is built. Now, you need to deliver it to your audience to start building brand awareness. Start with your social media accounts from LinkedIn to TikTok to Twitter to Snapchat.
Also consider building a personal website, going on podcasts or YouTube channels (or starting your own), and attending networking events. The more touch points you have, the more quickly you can build your personal brand and get the attention of your target audience. So, stay engaged. Post regularly, use hashtags your audience is engaging with, and be part of the conversation.
As long as you keep your brand consistent and you make your brand offering clear, your audience will come.
Your personal brand is all about you. To start building it, you need to define what you have to offer. Focus on what you bring to the table that no one else can. Then, create a consistent look and message to show your audience why they need to buy into your personal brand.
Once you understand how to brand yourself, you can keep yourself top of mind among recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues, and other industry professionals. It’s the kind of smart self promotion that will help you compete and win in the workplace.
To find a wardrobe that will help you compete and win at work, check out CUTS. Our workleisure wear is designed to go from hard work to happy hour. It keeps working for you, no matter what moves you make.
Your personal brand is all about you. To start building it, you need to define what you have to offer. Focus on what you bring to the table that no one else can. Then, create a consistent look and message to show your audience why they need to buy into your personal brand.
Once you understand how to brand yourself, you can keep yourself top of mind among recruiters, hiring managers, colleagues, and other industry professionals. It’s the kind of smart self promotion that will help you compete and win in the workplace.
To find a wardrobe that will help you compete and win at work, check out CUTS. Our workleisure wear is designed to go from hard work to happy hour. It keeps working for you, no matter what moves you make.