‘Personal branding’ sounds like one of those horrific marketing buzzwords that get bandied about frequently and aimlessly by just about everyone, and it can induce an eye-roll in many who hear it. But if you’re just starting out on your podcasting adventure, personal branding is something you’re going to have to get familiar with, and quickly.
Personal branding is, in the very simplest of terms, the way you present yourself to the world. And I can guarantee you have a personal branding already, whether you’ve done it with intention or not. If that’s a scary thought, don’t be too concerned. You can always steer your personal branding in the direction you want it to go, by implementing a strategy and applying it to all that you do. But if you don’t know how to even begin cultivating your personal brand, here are some helpful tips to get you started.
First, think of what your values are, and work towards showcasing them to your audience.
Your values are the things you think are most the important, things that you are proud to associate your name with. They can be things like reliability, positivity, ambition, growth, success, whatever. In order to create a killer personal brand, you have to be clear about yourself, and the image you want to put forth. Your brand is a reflection of who you are. Think about the things you stand for, the thing you believe in, your strengths, and your weaknesses. Knowing these things gets you a step closer to building a strong personal brand.
Second, conduct an online audit on yourself to get a feel for your current branding. In other words, Google yourself. See what comes up, and whether you’re happy to see it or not. Your personal brand has to be something you’re proud of, so if your old myspace profile is still popping up in the search results with embarrassing photos and comments “ThAt LoOk LiKe tHiS”, it’s essential that you begin rebranding, stat. Luckily, Google has made this relatively simple with the option to remove outdated content.
Third, you must remember that reinvention isn’t a dirty word. Change is inevitable in all aspects of life, and as we grow as individuals, our values and beliefs will change too. This is true even in business. It’s okay to reinvent your personal branding and steer it in whichever way you’re progressing. You might be concerned that people won’t take you seriously if you keep rebranding, and while this is true to an extent, it’s more important that you stay honest with your direction. Authenticity is key to great personal branding, and if you’re not loving what you’re promoting, it will be obvious.
Once you’ve figured out your personal brand, take care of it. Build your presence through purposeful content, put yourself out there, network, make great contacts, be visible, be accessible, and be the real you.
Author: Ronsley Vaz
Ronsley is the founder & chief day dreamer at AMPLIFY. He is an author, speaker & serial entrepreneur.
He has a Masters’ degree in Software Engineering and an MBA in Psychology and Leadership. He is known as the creator of We Are Podcast – the first Podcasting Conference in the Southern Hemisphere, and the host of The Bond Appetit Podcast and Should I Start a Podcast. He has an audience of over 3 million in 133 countries.