Personal branding is a hot topic in today’s marketing landscape, but few business owners truly understand what it means or how it can promote better conversions. With personal branding, you position yourself as a brand alongside your company.  Your employees also have a personal brand of their own.

Your personal brand is how you present yourself in the office, online, and even in your personal life.  An improved understanding of this concept and how it applies to your own professional trajectory could spell the difference between new opportunities and a stale career.

Stand Out From The Crowd

Whether your goal is to score new opportunities or grow as a thought leader, personal branding can set you apart from your competitors.  Find unique ways to produce value.  Your personal brand is about taking ownership and sharing your views.  Think about your online presence as a picture you are painting.  Do you post with purpose?  If you are thoughtful with your personal posting strategy, your point of view and expertise will come across strongly in the long term.

In today’s competitive market, mere competency is no longer good enough; employees and clients desire to work with those who possess a few specific strengths, as well as a thorough understanding of the industry.  If you have multiple passions or areas of interest, Shama Hyder insists finding a unified theme in your narrative to stand out positively.

Know Yourself

Everyone has unique traits, and ideally, every business or project will include a mist of these traits.  Instead of stifling your natural working style or characteristics, it is better to highlight them in a positive manner.   If you are unsure as to which personality traits make you shine, don’t hesitate to ask a friend or get a mentor for feedback.  Take both critiques and compliments into account, and feel free to use this feedback to highlight your strengths as you meet with new clients or apply for new positions.  Self esteem and confidence in yourself is a major part in being an authentic leader.  By knowing and loving yourself, you can consistently build those relationships that get you ahead.

Find Consistency

A good personal brand offers some semblance of consistency. Thus, a thorough understanding of your personality and the unique skills you can offer is essential; if you do not deliver these qualities on a consistent basis, you will not inspire trust in your clients and fellow employees—and without trust, a personal brand is meaningless. You can display consistency by branding yourself in an honest manner, but for an extra boost, pay attention to how you portray yourself online. A few consistent social media updates can greatly enhance your personal branding efforts.

Consistency should also be evident in all offline activity, including one-on-one consultations with clients, attendance at networking events, and even brief chats when you bump into coworkers in the hallway. Your grooming and wardrobe can also say a lot about your personal brand, so be sure to choose a look that is consistent with your overarching message. Your cohorts should never question your commitment to your personal brand.

A good personal brand can quickly take you to new heights. Take some time to determine what sets you apart and how these traits can help you make a positive impression. The ultimate goal is to prove that you excel at what you do, and more importantly, that you are different in the best possible way.