If you’re a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with great social media influence, 77% of buyers are likely to try the product you’re advocating for. What’s more, leads generated through social media influence are likely to convert up to seven times more. Again, 10.8% of social media advocates cab brag about closing more than five deals from social media leads.
These are sobering numbers for any professional in a sales team. But how do you get to the point of garnering more influence and outselling your peers? How do you increase the value of your social media shares and convert them into qualifying leads? As Nike says, “Just Do It”—build a personal brand.
However, thinking about a strong personal brand on your name can be pretty daunting if you’re just starting out your career, let alone building it. Here are six tips that will set you apart from the crowd.
1. Develop a Focus
The first step is developing a focus and move from the notion of becoming everything to anyone. Truth be said, no one pays attention to who you are until you build a key message that people want to identify with. So, if you’re just starting out, focus on one thing as you transition to the other.
Notable personal brands like Adam Smiley Poswolsky note that it takes carving a niche within your area to build the best personal brand that is specific. Build content around this niche and share it with your immediate community before targeting it with large-scale clients.
2. Build an Online Presence
Building a strong personal brand starts with getting to social media. However, that is not enough. Curious followers want to know more about you. Details on your social media bio will hardly make this possible—social media only rounds up who you are.
You should get a secure platform for displaying your CV and academic qualifications. This will help build credibility among other brands and prospective clients. So, create a Wikipedia page for yourself. When followers search your brand on Google, this page will pop up and rubberstamp your authority. Moreover, you can update a Wikipedia page with accurate and reflective information as much as you want.
3. Know Who You Are and Follow Alike Experts
A personal brand should embody who you are, personally and professionally. Get introspective and build a character around your strength and weaknesses. For instance, you should know your areas and excellence and what motivates you. You should also know which traits earn you more compliments.
Getting clarity on these areas will help you carve a niche and map out the careers you want to associate with. After that, research the experts around your field of interest and follow them. If they have blogs, can you subscribe to their weekly emails and imitate what they do better? This will get you several miles ahead of your personal branding journey.
4. Failing is Inevitable for Many, But Be Consistent
Failing is tough—no one wants to get through it. However, when building a personal brand, failure could be your stepping stone to greater success, especially if you maintain consistency in what you do and believe in. Draw lessons from your failures and get right back on track while pushing beyond your comfort limits.
Most importantly, shadow your failures by demonstrating consistency in your online appearance and communication. If you let failure distract you, it will derail all the personal branding efforts you put much energy and commitment to.
5. Book Yourself for Informational Interviews
Doing informational interviews helps your audience know you better. Remember, not everyone gets to see you speaking daily. Some people also want to admire you from this point of view as opposed to long social media posts and pictures.
A simple informational interview can take around 20 minutes but is of high value in building your personal brand. When you get to the interview, ensure that your audience garners new insights into your niche.
For instance, tell them how you made your break and the steps you’re making to transition from where you are. Also, give them the industry’s forecast while referencing up-to-date trends and insights
6. Live Your Brand
The biggest challenge many professionals face is trying to build a personal brand different from their daily life. It shouldn’t be that way unless you’re trying to become who you’re not. It’s nigh impossible to live a double life while building a personal brand.
Get your brand and lifestyle on the same page to amplify your true beliefs. Remember, you want your personal brand to reflect thoughtful mentorship. Many people are looking up to you as you rise. Don’t let your lifestyle give them a reason to stop.
Build a Reputable Personal Brand and People Will Tell Your Story
Building a strong personal brand is a life-long project and your audience may help you achieve this overarching goal. Follow these golden tips to get to your baby steps as you set out for this journey. It’s not a one-size-fits-all. Moreover, there are no hard-set rules. It’s just you and your audience. Make every milestone count by embracing your achievements and you’ll get where you want to be.