The world is filled so much information, businesses, people and noise. One can stand out from the multitude with a good personal brand. Your personal brand would be needed if you are bent on advancing your current career, finding a new job or changing careers totally.
Chances are your business partners or prospective employers would do a search to know what you represent and values you offer. If you don’t have a personal brand, you get to miss a myriad of opportunities. So what is a personal brand? In simple terms, it is what people can link to you- your unique selling point. Basically, it is what the individual stands for, their skills or expertise, what you are known for.
Think of popular personal brands e.g Oprah Winfrey ( She is renowned media personality, known for her oratory prowess), Chimamanda Adichie( She is not just a feminist but a famous author), Mohammed Ali( He is one of the greatest boxers of our time). These people have ‘something’ that is attached to their names. That is what personal branding is all about.
Now that social media is the in-thing, it is best place to promote ones personal brand. One can leverage on the various platforms to build a solid personal brand. Here are three ways to build a strategy to effectively communicate your personal brand on social media:
1.Present yourself as thought leader in your industry
Use your professional experience and the knowledge you have gained to enrich your network. A colleague or anyone trying to grow their career would find them helpful. Don’t try to cover everything in your industry, focus on areas of strength. For example, if you are digital marketer for 5 years or so, you can offer industry insights on SEO, email marketing, social media management depending on what you are most knowledgeable about. Begin with questions your audience are likely to ask, brainstorm topics, check Quora/comments section of blogs on your industry to give your ideas.
2.Promote your content
Once you have decided on the topics you are conversant with, you will need to promote them on social media. No-one would get to see your content if it is not out there. Remember the saying that ‘Content is King’ holds true. As you promote on the right social media channels, don’t stop. You have got to be consistent with the kind of content you give. That way, your network catches up with you and identifies you as an authourity in that area. You can also use a personal blog and websites to create contents and push on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and others.
3. Use videos
Written content has its place in personal branding but you may want to infuse videos. These days, short videos are fun ways to keep audience more engaged. You don’t really need expensive equipment, you are good to go with your smart phone. If you want to attract new audiences, you should do more videos on LinkedIn, Instagram , Facebook, Twitter etc
Written by Patricia Uyeh