3 Steps To Creating Your Personal Brand

What will come to mind when your name is mentioned?

Mr. Bruce says to Mr. Albright "Yes, I knew I'd seen you before, I remember where now"
Mr Albright : "Oh really? where was that?"
Mr. Bruce : "Really, at Mr. Schneider's son's birthday party"
Mr. Albright : "Mr. Schneider? ermm....oh! Mr. Schneider! The guy who makes the best cheeseburger around town. I remember now"

When your name is mentioned, what comes to anyone's mind? What'll you be remembered for? What will you be associated with?
That is your personal identity- how others see you, how the world sees you.
Stand out from the pack, distinguish yourself, make it easy for anyone, and everyone to remember you. Create your identity. Remember what they say about first impressions? -You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The power is in your hands to create a first impression. Whether we like it or not, we are always being judged on our first impression, that's the way the world works.

Create your personal identity. One writer calls it "influencing how the world sees you...purposefully packaging the brand called you."
Your personal brand is everything.

Image: freedigitalphotos.net

1. (Re)Discover Yourself:
Write out all your skills, talents, abilities, and work experience. Ask yourself "which of all these would I love to be recognized for?" Decide all the skills, talents, attributes you want to be known for. Write these out. You must be sincere with yourself, do not write what is not within your capability. Impossible still exists in the English lexicon!

2. Decide Your Elevator Speech.
i. When you've discovered your best attributes, align them together. Merge them seamlessly into a short 'personal statement'. For instance lets consider Mr. Schneider once again. He loves to cook, and is a good cook, he loves to make people happy, he is passionate about high quality, and customer satisfaction, he has good time management skills, he makes good cheeseburgers.

Now here is Mr. Schneider's elevator speech: I make extra-awesome mouth watering cheeseburgers in ten minutes.
Next time you're in need of cheeseburger, wouldn't you remember Mr. Schneider? The answer is obvious.

Now, go right ahead and write out yours. It should be something captivating, that will stick in the memory for a very long time. It should be unique, and have the 'wow, really?' effect.

ii. After you have written out your elevator speech, begin to practice it. First, record yourself saying it. Then listen to the recording over and over again, changing the parts you that don't sound right. Do this over till it sounds perfect. Then practice, practice, practice. Say it to yourself while you're driving, walking down the road, climbing the stairs, in the elevator by yourself. Get trusted friends, and family to listen to you say it, and point out any flaws they notice. Look yourself in the mirror, and say it to yourself every morning before you leave your home. Say it over and over until you're able to say it naturally, with confidence, and convincingly. Then don't stop saying it, let it become your favorite song, till it plays itself in your memory.

3. Integrate Your Elevator Speech- Online, and Offline.
Your personal brand must be incorporated in every part of your identity- online and offline. Your social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+) profiles must reflect it, your business cards, and stationery must reflect this. When strangers, or non-strangers, search for you online, this is what they should find. Note that the word REFLECT, and not RECITE. It should give a general idea, not write word for word, what you'd say when they come in contact with you. That would sound kinda weird, wouldn't it?
Create a personal website. Your website should reflect clearly, who you are, and what you're about.

Now, I'd like to give you two extra tips:

1. Now that you have created your own personal brand, you must promote it. After carrying out step 3 above, you should do further. Attend networking events for professionals in your niche. Search out writing avenues, write articles on your niche online, and also on your local papers. Comment on blogs, join forums on your niche and join the discussions with relevant input,. Make yourself visible.

2. Manage your identity. Make sure you live and project the image you have created for yourself both online and offline. Your online image isn't a robot, it is you! Be you. Be careful of your comments and ensure you do not associate your brand with anything that will be negative to it. Control the impression you give people. Think before you tweet, post, chat. Remember that what you write/say could one day be held against you.

Have you ever written/tweeted/posted something online that was negative to your personal brand or identity? Were you able to resolve it in anyway? We'll appreciate your answer in the comment box, your feed-backs are highly appreciated.

Thank you, and have a great week ahead.
That's it today folks, have yourselves a great weekend.