Building a strong personal brand is high on the ‘must-do’ list of many ambitious professionals, as brands and businesses continue to compete for visibility in an online environment that is now a given. This is a good time, therefore, to look at some of the common myths that surround the concept of personal branding.
A Personal Brand Is Nice But Unnecessary:
The truth is, we are all brands. Each of us has a personal brand, even if we don’t think about it often. A strong brand stands out in the crowd—and gains more sales, increased awareness, and better customer experiences as a result. Personal branding helps promote you and establish credence. In today’s increasingly digital world, a personal brand is no longer a nice-to-have; it is a must-have. Building your brand is crucial and valuable – not just nice but necessary.
Personal Branding Is All About You:
Your personal brand is a collection of perceptions and experiences that others have of you.
Branding, however is not blatant self-promotion. It is about communicating your relevance to your stakeholders. Your expertise cannot, after all, be a well-kept secret! It is important to strike that delicate balance between personal branding and self- promotion so that your brand will stand out to customers in a way that is appealing and not offensive.
You Have to be an Extrovert to Build Your Personal Brand:
As a self-confessed introvert myself, I often wonder how I have found my way into the personal branding business! After all, showcasing your personal brand is nothing short of a performance. But introverts can be very successful at this, by using a slightly different strategy. Use social media and virtual networking to build your brand, if being with too many people saps you of your energy. New age digital branding tools such as video, podcast and e-books as great to help introverts express their thought leadership. The keyword is focus and not numbers.
Personal Branding is Image Management:
Perfect dressing and fantastic elevator pitch do not make a brand. While image management focuses more on the external aspects of an individual, personal branding is an inside-out job. An authentically discovered and intentionally created personal brand is like a beautifully wrapped gift, what’s on the inside is really what matters the most.
Branding Doesn’t Get Me Sales:
Nothing can be further than the truth and I speak from experience. I help entrepreneurs and experts monetise their personal brand to grow their income. My personal brand attracts new business through word of mouth and referrals. A credible brand is a magnet for clients and customers.In today’s terminology, the new ROI is ROR= Return on Relationships – relationships that are built via personal brand.
Personal branding is about being memorable, standing out and leading with clarity and authenticity. By dissolving certain common myths and adopting the correct strategies, personal branding can be a worthy investment, especially in today’s virtual world.