Our Perspectives
Brand me...
18 August 2009
Paula Mullin
Nike, Pepsi, Vodafone, Paddy Power and McDonalds…… All are big brands, with clear direction and a sense of purpose. All are acutely aware of the market they are operating in; all are tuned in to their competitor’s activity. All of them know who they want to reach, why they want to reach them and how they will do it. Have you ever thought of yourself as being brand?
Do you know what direction you are going in? Do you know what your sense of purpose is? Do you know who your competitors are, never mind what they are doing? Do you know who you want to reach as an individual and how you might go about it? If the answer to most of these questions is no, maybe its time you started to look at developing your very own Personal Brand.
In every industry the market is tougher now than ever, more and more people are struggling to secure fewer jobs. So now the need to stand out from the crowd is greater than ever. So how can you go about developing your own brand? Well let’s follow some of the same principles as the big guys…
1. Get to know your market
Whatever industry you are in, get to know what is going on. Keep track of what is being reported in the media. Take the time to research online, get to know the credible commentators in the space, sign up to free online newsletters. Use social networking to follow and link with the right contacts. Go out and about and meet people, attend industry events, follow up with a coffee with any contacts made. Immerse yourself in the industry, become an expert in your own way
2. Get to know your audience
If you are looking for a new role in a company, get to know what is out there. Who are the main players? Research the company, find out about the company culture, the company values, do they match with yours? Find out about the type of people that work there, what would make you an appealing candidate for that company? Don’t be afraid to ask around, talk to friends of friends that might have some insights or even better become friends with people in similar industries. Sharing stories with like minded people makes it more enjoyable.
3. What are your brand messages?
If you do nothing else, do this; decide what your Unique Selling Point is, what makes you different? There are a number of ways to find out what this, think of your passions, your skills, your values or answer these questions
- If your boss/colleague was asked what the BEST thing about working with you was… what would they say?
- Think of a time when you KNOW you did an excellent job – what made it excellent?
- Think of time when you were happiest working – what exactly were you doing?
4. Strengthen and protect your brand
All of the big brands out there recognise the importance of investing in their brand, in the same way your brand requires some investment be that time or money. Look at any additional professional training courses. In this increasingly fast moving world, we need to continually learn about what is new in our industry, the latest model, process or idea. Join the relevant professional bodies, attend their events or even volunteer your time where your unique skills will add value.
So as you can see becoming your own brand is actually quite straight forward. The reality is you are probably following most of the steps already but you just never thought of it as your own personal brand. The online world has made it much easier for all of us to find out more about anyone and everyone. Whether that is checking out a potential date, reading views on a favourite celebrity or assessing a job candidate, the first place people go is the net. Therefore the importance of knowing what is being said online about you and taking an active role in contributing to worthy material is more necessary than ever. The world is now so much more accessible, so if you want to make a big impression in a smaller pond, start developing your very own brand.
Be 100% authentic and watch the opportunities flood in.
LEAVE A COMMENT