What Is Personal Branding: 4 Ways To Leverage It To Become A Remarkable Leader

Whether you scratch the surface on what goes into branding or dive deep into the type of content an individual should publish on their social networks and personal website, how you answer reveals what you believe about personal branding.

It’s critical to define this type of branding and know its purpose. Personal branding is particularly crucial if you plan to become a successful entrepreneur, speaker, or business person.

Even if you don’t know it, you have an online reputation. So how can you leverage and improve your personal brand for your career? First, let’s get into the finer points.

You create a branded version of yourself simply by your existing online and in-person personas. Your activity online portrays specifics about your brand. Even if you are not active online, your absence communicates something to the watching world.

How do you combat this phenomenon and use it for the good of your business? The purpose behind branding is where you can find the answer.

The purpose behind this type of branding is unique to you, the individual creating a personal brand. Forbes says, “A personal brand is the unique combination of skills and experiences that make you who you are.”

Strong personal brands will help you stand out from competitors. When your brand aligns with all aspects of you, the individual, trust will form between you and your potential clients. The common purpose behind this type of brand is to find and connect to your target audience.

When you bridge the gap between you and the people you hope to reach, the potential for reach, income, and impact go up. That said, it’s essential to look at a great example of how to do so.

A great example of a personal brand is the remarkable leader, speaker, and author John Maxwell. Over the last four decades, Maxwell wrote books aligning with his brand. His genres include motivation, personal development, and of course, leadership.

Note that Maxwell’s books focus on his brand. He writes in genres that reflect his image and bring value to it. John Maxwell is a great example of a personal brand because his business is all-inclusive:

• His website reflects his core brand values
• His books align with what he stands for
• His training focuses on furthering his message
• His academy reiterates his brand message

Real Leaders considered him one of the top 50 keynote speakers globally, and his success as an author simply reiterates this fact. Maxwell’s brand focuses on the tagline, become the leader you were born to be. His blog posts underscore this brand, which Maxwell is the center of.

How To Leverage Personal Branding To Your Benefit

Be gracious with yourself as you work through these steps. Personal branding is ever-evolving, and it can be challenging to grasp in the beginning stages. Take your time and remember that growth is a process, but learning is continual.

1. Articulate What You What To Be Known For

Once you decide to move forward with personal branding, you need to define what you want others to associate with you. For example, TEDx speakers talk about the subject matter they are well versed in. Kevin Breel has his entire website based on his name because he branded himself with TED as a leader in overcoming depression. People kept Googling his name and the subject matter and thus, built a brand.

You may not have given a talk on TEDx yet, but if you want your audience to know you as a speaker, taking your message to the stage is a great way to articulate your brand. In addition, this ensures you can record your message and post it on your website as a visual example of who you are.

Take the time to ask yourself what you want to represent and what you want others to know you for. This time is invaluable because it will help you in the next step.

2. Grow Your Online Presence

Katie Kimball is a prime example of an individual who articulated her brand and took it to the next level through her online presence. Due to her bold choices, Katie is the national voice for healthy kids cooking. In 2020, The Wall Street Journal even recommended her Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, the best online cooking class for kids.

3. Take Your Brand Offline

Taking your brand offline is essential, particularly if you are a public speaker. Yes, you should have an online presence, particularly in this day and age, but maintaining brand integrity is essential to the longevity of your brand.

When we say take your brand offline, what we mean is to represent your brand outside of the digital landscape. Who you are in person is your brand. So, regardless of whether you’re presenting online or on stage, you represent your brand at all times:

• During the meet-and-great
• At the Q&A
• When someone runs into you at the airport

These interactions point to your brand’s integrity or lack thereof. If you present yourself as personable and outgoing online but reserved and distant in person, the alignment between your online and offline brand is lacking. Take the appropriate steps to align both your online and offline presence.

4. Define Your WHY And Use It To Motivate You Longterm

When you know WHY you want to meet a particular goal, this knowledge base helps when you’re months or years into your career and need long-term motivation. Follow these six steps to help you define your why:

With that in mind, remember that your personal brand can’t simply stand by itself. It must bring some sort of value to your audience.

Building A Valuable, Personal Brand: Take Your First Step Today