If you want to establish yourself as an industry thought leader, change your career, or grow your professional network, consider developing a personal brand that will grab people’s attention.
Many people make the mistake of marketing products or services when they might simply need to market themselves to enjoy great success in their field. Get started today by reading the six steps to building a personal brand.
Step One: Identify the Best Social Media Platform
The first thing you must do is find a platform that complements your knowledge, skills, and interests. For example, if you want to establish yourself as a talented chef, start creating foodie videos for Facebook or Instagram. However, if you are a business consultant, write insightful articles that professionals will want to click on while browsing LinkedIn.
Step Two: Launch a Website
Once you have grabbed social media users’ attention with a video or article, your goal must be for them to learn more about who you are, what you do, and how you can help them. For this reason, you must launch a website that highlights your knowledge and experience in an industry.
Not only must a site be visually appealing, but it must also feature informative blog posts, a great user experience, and various contact details to encourage your visitors to get in touch.
Step Three: Develop a Professional Image
Once you have identified your target demographic and the best platforms for your brand, you must start developing a professional image that will make people want to work with you.
For instance, you can use an online logo maker to create a graphic design that represents who you are and what you can do for a client or employer. Also, think carefully about your tone of voice, taglines, imagery, and colors, which can make or break your brand’s success.
Step Four: Collaborate with Other Thought Leaders
The next step should be to collaborate with other thought leaders inside and outside of your industry. Building a solid network could help to grow your social following.
For example, you can use cross-promotion to benefit from each other’s growing following. Publish interviews on each other’s websites, launch joint social media competitions, or host industry workshops together.
Step Five: Launch Helpful Guides
If you want to become an industry thought leader, consider launching helpful guides on your website. Allow others to learn from your experience by promoting free eBooks, or ask people to sign-up to a webinar series. You could even monetize the products to turn your industry knowledge into a profitable business.
Step Six: Build a Solid Email List
As you will want people to return to your website or social profiles time and again, you should build a solid email list. Ask readers if they would like to opt into receiving your newsletter. You can then send exclusive, valuable content directly into their inbox. For example, you could provide them with a free webinar or a snippet of your eBook, which could encourage them to buy from your brand.
