Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world right now include CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Google’s CEO Larry Page. And you know what they all have in common other than probably being some of the richest men in the world? They knew exactly how to boost their personal brand.
Whether you are an entrepreneur or not, learning how to boost your personal brand is the key to success. There are 10 essential components that can help you improve your brand. Stick to them and who knows, you might just become one of the next most successful CEOs out there.
1. Dare to be different
One of the least likely ways you are going to attract people towards your brand is by showing them something they have already seen or heard before. It is what makes you different that is going to set you apart from everyone else. You’ve probably heard it a million times already: I know I certainly have whether it’s been about a resume, an interview or even in my own writing. But it couldn’t be truer. As much as people like to assimilate, they also like to stand out. Hello, have you heard of the hipster generation? If they find something too mainstream, forget about them even buying into it. Give them something that will be different than what is in the current trend and they will probably respond in a positive way.
2. Create a catchy slogan
- I’m lovin’ it.
- The happiest place on earth.
- Just do it.
- 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.
All of these slogans are simple, yet catchy and because of it they are some of the most well known slogans across the world. Every brand needs a slogan that gets across their message. The slogan of a company becomes the centerpiece of a company’s identity. If it’s a good saying, it can take a business far and if not, it could send the wrong message to people and turn them away. It may sound a little crazy that just a few words or one sentence can have such a huge impact on a brand, but slogans become a way to foresee into a company’s ideals. Thus the better the slogan, the more likely your target audience will remember your brand and want to know more.
3. Network! Network! Network!
It’s not about what you know; it’s about who you know. This is a saying I’ve heard too many times already and I know for a fact I’m not done hearing it either. Chances are you have heard it and guess what? You aren’t done hearing it either. In reality, a major part of your brand is about what you know because without it, there wouldn’t be a brand to get across to people.
However, a significant part of becoming successful in this day and age is weighed heavily by how many people you know. For every person you tell about your brand, five of their friends will hear about it who will then in return tell a dozen more of their friends about it. Networking is a chain reaction and as a result, you must always be doing it. You’re entire life should be one networking event and if it’s not, you’re doing it wrong.
4. Social media is key
If you don’t already have a Facebook page, Instagram, or Twitter for your personal brand, what are you doing? Go get one now. Seriously, stop reading this and go create accounts for your brand right now.
You, yes you, are in the age of digital media. Any and everything revolves around social media most of the time. Using social media to talk about your brand is the most important, and not to mention the cheapest, way you can talk about your brand. You not only get the word out about your brand, but you can also interact with your audience to see what it is they like or dislike about your product. Listening to consumers will help to improve your brand in the long run. The entire world is at your fingertips with just a few clicks of a button. So, if you don’t have any social media accounts, stop slacking and #getwithit.
5. Develop a website
Because social media is so important, having a website for your personal brand is just as imperative. Websites feature contact info, all the essential information about your product and an about me section. Letting your audience know your story creates a much more dynamic relationship between the producer and the consumer. Consumers no longer see the product as just a product; they see it as a person’s livelihood.
When creating your website, remember to make sure it is both clean and professional, as well as creative. It must be easy to navigate but it also needs to be appealing to the eye.
6. Show your personality
The weirder a person is, the better. You know why, because they aren’t boring. No one wants to buy or promote something from someone who has no personality. This is why it’s so important to make sure that when you share your pitch with people that you include your personality when doing so. There is nothing wrong with being serious, but if you don’t add your personality to your personal brand it’s not going to make an impact on people. Just as a slogan foreshadows what a company is like, so does the company’s personality. If you are genuine, fun, smart and responsible all in one, there is nothing to worry about because you are going to make a lasting impression on your audience.
7. Pick the right time to share your message
When you try to share the message of your brand with people, make sure it is at the right time. Timing is of the essence, meaning it plays a huge role in advertising your brand. Share your message at meetings or during networking opportunities.
8. Don’t ever give up
Charles Schultz said, “It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are not.”
If you are one of those people who is negative about everything, stop thinking that way and start adding some positivity to your life. This means if the road gets tough, do not give up on your personal brand. Just because it is not going well right now doesn’t mean it won’t get better down the line. When you start giving up is when you truly start failing. Giving up on your brand will be noticeable to other people and they will give up on you and your product too. When you try to fix the problems and stand your ground is when you truly start succeeding. People will see how much you believe in your brand and they will be the ones who will trust in you enough to keep you going. So speak with confidence and walk with your head held high because you can do anything if you truly believe in yourself.
9. Be passionate about what you’re doing
Do not do anything that you don’t have the passion to do. This is again because your audience will see that you don’t have the passion to do it and guess what, they aren’t going to want to buy into your product either. For example, I can tell you right now that I was born to write. I know with every fiber of my being that it is what I was meant to do in life and anyone who knows me could probably tell you how passionate I am about it. So if you’re passionate about your personal brand, talk about it with everyone. If you aren’t passionate about your personal brand, stop trying to sell something to people that isn’t believable and that you don’t even care about as much as you should. Passion is what drives people to reach new limits and can inspire others. If you’re able to inspire, people will flock to you for your personal brand because it’ll make them feel as great as it makes you feel.
10. Stick to your priorities
As you try to boost your personal brand, you might get distracted with everything that’s going on along the way. Always remember to stick to your priorities and define what your goals are throughout. When you realize what is most important to you and your personal brand, it will not only be easier to accomplish those goals, but they will be clearly defined for the people interested in your brand as well. In order to have success you have to know what it means to you and your brand first.