ATD Blog
Building Your Personal Brand
Mon Nov 03 2014
Content
Personal branding seems to be the big buzz lately. So, what does it mean and what do you need to consider? Kudos to Stephen Covey for this one, as you should “begin with the end in mind.” What do you want people to know about you?
Personal branding seems to be the big buzz lately. So, what does it mean and what do you need to consider? Kudos to Stephen Covey for this one, as you should “begin with the end in mind.” What do you want people to know about you?
Content
It is generally acknowledged that the use of technology and social media in much of the world is ubiquitous and plays a significant role in our daily life. According to Erik Qualman, author of Social Media Revolution, “We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it.”
It is generally acknowledged that the use of technology and social media in much of the world is ubiquitous and plays a significant role in our daily life. According to Erik Qualman, author of Social Media Revolution, “We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it.”
Content
Indeed, social media is playing a major role in personal branding, but it certainly is not everything.
Indeed, social media is playing a major role in personal branding, but it certainly is not everything.
Content
Business cards
Business cards
Content
Business cards are still a component of personal branding, yet many people don’t realize the power of this small piece of paper. There are many things to consider when designing a business card. Here are some tips that may be helpful.
Business cards are still a component of personal branding, yet many people don’t realize the power of this small piece of paper. There are many things to consider when designing a business card. Here are some tips that may be helpful.
Content
On the front of the business card, you may want to include the following:
On the front of the business card, you may want to include the following:
Content
name
name
Content
title, so people know what you do
title, so people know what you do
Content
cell phone and/or office phone
cell phone and/or office phone
Content
email address
email address
Content
website, if you have one (and you can create one for free at www.about.me )
website, if you have one (and you can create one for free at www.about.me)
Content
LinkedIn URL , which you should make sure you customize BEFORE you get your business cards printed
LinkedIn URL, which you should make sure you customize BEFORE you get your business cards printed
Content
tag line, which is a “permanent” line for your business instead of a slogan that is typically used with a single marketing campaign (This should state what you do and differentiate you from your competition and show how you are unique with your values and benefits. Further tagline considerations are noted below.)
tag line, which is a “permanent” line for your business instead of a slogan that is typically used with a single marketing campaign (This should state what you do and differentiate you from your competition and show how you are unique with your values and benefits. Further tagline considerations are noted below.)
Content
logo or graphic that symbolizes you or perhaps a professional photograph
logo or graphic that symbolizes you or perhaps a professional photograph
Content
color(s) that will be memorable
color(s) that will be memorable
Content
glossy or matte finish
glossy or matte finish
Content
physical address if you have a brick and mortar location, but perhaps not necessary if you are consulting.
physical address if you have a brick and mortar location, but perhaps not necessary if you are consulting.
Content
Many people are missing out on an opportunity for an advertisement by not including information on the back of their business card. Here are some things to consider for the back:
Many people are missing out on an opportunity for an advertisement by not including information on the back of their business card. Here are some things to consider for the back:
Content
light background color—so people can write the date and location of where they met you
light background color—so people can write the date and location of where they met you
Content
matte background, not glossy—so when people write, the ink does not smear
matte background, not glossy—so when people write, the ink does not smear
Content
blank space to write
blank space to write
Content
inclusion of a value proposition
inclusion of a value proposition
Content
addition of a QR code.
addition of a QR code.
Content
Remember: First impressions count, so get a quality business card printed by a professional company.
Remember: First impressions count, so get a quality business card printed by a professional company.
Content
Content
Your LinkedIn headline should be treated like Manhattan real estate because you only have 120 characters, and it is your SEO (search engine optimization) location on your profile. This is your personal branding—your expertise, your core values, and your value proposition. You can exude your personality along with key words that allow you to be findable and may help differentiate you from others. Here are a few more tips:
Your LinkedIn headline should be treated like Manhattan real estate because you only have 120 characters, and it is your SEO (search engine optimization) location on your profile. This is your personal branding—your expertise, your core values, and your value proposition. You can exude your personality along with key words that allow you to be findable and may help differentiate you from others. Here are a few more tips:
Content
Make sure you space the words and any punctuation or symbols properly, so there are no misspellings. Also, don’t abbreviate words, such as Mgr for Manager. Change sales/marketing (without the spaces before and after the slash) to sales / marketing. Although our human eye understands the verbiage and punctuation, you need to leave spaces between slashes (“/”), dashes (“-“), commas, and pipes (“|”).
Make sure you space the words and any punctuation or symbols properly, so there are no misspellings. Also, don’t abbreviate words, such as Mgr for Manager. Change sales/marketing (without the spaces before and after the slash) to sales / marketing. Although our human eye understands the verbiage and punctuation, you need to leave spaces between slashes (“/”), dashes (“-“), commas, and pipes (“|”).
Content
Content
If you are in career transition, you might want to avoid using “seeking opportunity.”(You don’t want to appear desperate.)
If you are in career transition, you might want to avoid using “seeking opportunity.”(You don’t want to appear desperate.)
Content
Content
Symbols can be a fun touch and add the froufrou to your profile, but remember to use spaces before and after them - ♛ ✆ ☎ ✉ ☛ ★ ✔ ◊ ♦ ► ◄ ↔ ☆ ★ ♫ ■ ◆ ● ✪ ✰ ✔ ✘ ☐ ☑ ☒ ☚ ☜ ☝ ☞ ☟ ⇨ »
Symbols can be a fun touch and add the froufrou to your profile, but remember to use spaces before and after them - ♛ ✆ ☎ ✉ ☛ ★ ✔ ◊ ♦ ► ◄ ↔ ☆ ★ ♫ ■ ◆ ● ✪ ✰ ✔ ✘ ☐ ☑ ☒ ☚ ☜ ☝ ☞ ☟ ⇨ »
Content
Taglines require a lot of thought and you should run your ideas by others to get opinions. Start with a list of verbs that will convey action to start your story (build, consult, develop, earn, focus, grow, help, keep, partner, transform). Next, consider the key benefits that will be derived (less stress, more support, save time, more power, find a solution, improve potential, gain freedom, achieve success).
Taglines require a lot of thought and you should run your ideas by others to get opinions. Start with a list of verbs that will convey action to start your story (build, consult, develop, earn, focus, grow, help, keep, partner, transform). Next, consider the key benefits that will be derived (less stress, more support, save time, more power, find a solution, improve potential, gain freedom, achieve success).
Content
Create a list of industry-specific jargon. Some questions to address include:
Create a list of industry-specific jargon. Some questions to address include:
Content
Content
What are your strengths or unique selling points?
What are your strengths or unique selling points?
Content
Combine words in different combinations
Combine words in different combinations
Content
Is it visually appealing?
Is it visually appealing?
Content
Is it memorable and easy to say?
Is it memorable and easy to say?
Content
Does it generate positive feelings?
Does it generate positive feelings?
Content
Is it unusable by competitors?
Is it unusable by competitors?
Content
As a virtual assistance business, our tagline is “Our passion will let you pursue yours.” Okay, so we broke the rule of not starting the sentence with a verb, but we like it! So where can you get help to get key words for your business card, headline, and tagline? Here are some useful links:
As a virtual assistance business, our tagline is “Our passion will let you pursue yours.” Okay, so we broke the rule of not starting the sentence with a verb, but we like it! So where can you get help to get key words for your business card, headline, and tagline? Here are some useful links:
Content
www.wordle.net (for a word cloud)
www.wordle.net (for a word cloud)
Content
www.tagcrowd.com (for a word cloud)
www.tagcrowd.com (for a word cloud)
Content
www.wordstream.com
Content
www.semrush.com
Content
www.google.com/adwords
Content
www.keywordeye.com
Content
www.keywordspy.com .
Content
Although there are many more things to think about for personal branding, this will at least give you a start in case you are in the process of reinventing yourself!
Although there are many more things to think about for personal branding, this will at least give you a start in case you are in the process of reinventing yourself!