In today’s world, a personal brand is expected and essential in moving you forward in your career. It builds credibility and trust, which can be helpful in building relationships with your audience or landing business opportunities.
Personal branding is the practice of marketing yourself and your career as a brand. It speaks for you when you are not in the room and it encompasses your personality, values, skills and many other things. Remember that no one on this earth has your unique perspectives and personal experiences, and you will greatly increase the chances of success in your career if you mix the two.
These are the top three things that you can do to start thinking about how to implement and start building your personal brand.
1. Have a consistent brand identity tied to who you are.
Determine what you want to be known for. Your personal brand is more than a reflection of who you are today; it’s a roadmap of where you to go. When I started to dive deep into who I was and what I wanted to be known for, I leaned into my passion – and that was enhancing the visibility of women in the tech space and making it an equitable space for marginalized groups to thrive.
I tied that into what I posted on LinkedIn, what I presented at panels, and directly to my career. That made me distinct from my competition because that became part of who I was – I became the “expert” in these discussions and that opened doors for me.
You must understand your existing skills and passions and by doing this, you can uncover what makes you distinct and helps you stand out in your space.
2. Have a consistent social brand identity – Post content on social media!
A brand is a story, and you are the main character! When creating content for social media, I keep those things in mind. Use language or slang that is natural to you and conveys your unique personality and thoughts authentically.
Also, a picture is worth a thousand words and so is your headshot. I make sure to update my professional headshot every three years or so to ensure it is a representation of who I am. If you don’t have a headshot for your LinkedIn profile, get one as a first step to represent your brand.
3. Embrace networking and joining industry organizations.
Growing your professional circle is very important. Connect with peers and industry thought leaders by going to formal and informal networking events.
When I started networking, I used the Alliance of Channel Women as an inroad. I attended all the shows to network and introduce myself and I would immediately add the people that I met through LinkedIn and send a follow-up message thanking them for meeting with me.
Getting involved in a volunteer capacity to expand your brand can help elevate your brand as well, especially if it is an organization within your industry. As I started to get involved with the Alliance of Channel Women and tied my personal brand of diversity and inclusion into the equation, I got more external opportunities that knocked on my door – these opportunities included being invited to speak on panels, serve on more boards, etc.
The Alliance of Channel Women is always looking for volunteers – I am for the DE&I committee! We are driven to help women find their voices, build their personal stories and expand their careers.
Start Now!
If you are in the early stages of developing a personal brand, way to go! The steps above will give you a good place to start.
About the Author
Mayka Rosales-Peterson is Senior Manager of Partner Marketing at Intelisys. She also is a member of the ACW Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the ACW DE&I Committee. Rosales-Peterson is an experienced marketing and sales professional with more than a decade of work history driving new customers and revenue growth. Her expertise is in building and enhancing brand awareness, engaging stakeholders, and motivating cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.