• By Smriti
• Posted July 26, 2017

5 ways to create a personal brand that can boost your career

The term personal branding is often associated with entrepreneurs and influential people in the industry.

Earlier, a personal brand used to include nothing but a business card; now, with the development of Social Media and technology, a personal brand is much more than an offline business card- it is the way to stand out in this highly individualised society.

A personal brand can be defined as a brand you build around yourself; it is the way people remember you.

A personal brand is not selling centred, it is built around the ability of people to market themselves and the availability of the person- for both, business and personal relations.

Here are five ways to create a personal brand that can help you boost your career:

• Personal branding online and offline- Personal branding isn’t about the internet. When you leave your home, ensure you maintain an approachable and positive attitude; a smile, being polite, and a strong work ethic can leave a lasting good impression on potential relationships and clients.
• Analyse your online presence- Every Tweet, every Facebook status update, and every Instagram post make up your personal brand. Analyse your brand and what you aim to be; align your online presence with your brand. This may sometimes mean you cannot share that funny picture that may raise derogatory remarks; also, keep that picture of that drunken night to yourself.
• Associate with other strong brands- Your personal brand is affected by the brands you associate with; this implies, your online presence may be weakened if you associate with weak brands, and your personal brand may be elevated by associated with stronger brands. Take leverage of stronger brands, join a growing community, write guest posts for your University blog. Small actions add up quick.
• Establish a character and personality of your brand- We all associate certain brands with their signature style/traits/personality. A good personal brand has a strong personality and adds a lot of character to the already existing individual. Ensure your signature style is natural to you since you cannot force something down your own throat too; copying A-list people, trying to be something you are not only makes it look fake and thus, weak. Keep it natural and strong.
• Consciously manage and control your brand- Once established, a personal brand cannot be left in vacuum to thrive by itself. A good personal brand needs to be consciously and consistently managed and controlled for effective implementation of its role in life- growth and development of individuals. A personal brand is not a destination but a constant journey of being better each day, with small acts adding up to make it more concrete and lasting.

A personal brand, in this current globalised, ever evolving society is the key to success- individual and business.