05 Feb The 4 Essential Elements to Successful Personal Branding

Have you ever wondered what’s the driving force behind the success of today’s biggest mega stars? What’s the root of their success? Is it their drive, talent, beauty, innovation or business know-how? Although these qualities attract media and create high visibility, all mega stars have one common thread that is fundamental to their careers: their Personal Brand. Are you meticulously building yours? Do you know what it takes to have an amazing personal brand?

DESIGN:

Have you ever thought of yourself as a project, as a company, or as a brand? If not, start immediately. Everyone is a brand, and you are your best asset! The key to your success is defining the brand called ‘YOU’. The term ‘personal brand’ is believed to have first appeared in an article written for Fast Company Magazine in 1997 by Tom Peters, renowned author and management guru. “We are CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc” wrote Peters. “To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called YOU.”

MUST READ: 8 Steps to Brand Greatness: The Essential Checklist to Build Your Personal Brand

PERCEPTION:

Personal Branding is about how we perceive ourselves and how we allow others to perceive us. There is a complex mix of visual and emotional elements that affect how potential followers, clients, colleagues and other partner perceive you. Much like any publicist does for a client, constantly work on the element of perception when telling your brand’s story.

DISTINCTION:

How do we stand out in the crowd? What value do we add to other people’s lives? What tools do we utilize to market or publicize ourselves? Personal Branding is the key that defines your niche, targets your audience, builds your network and/or community and launches the message of your movement. Branding ‘YOU’ can optimize the value of your reputation and increase your worth.

CONSISTENCY:

Consistency is key, so be sure to maintain it throughout all your efforts, from public speaking to online blogging and social media, to networking, personal web pages, and any other content you put out to the world.

Whether you want the reach of your personal brand to be as limited as your close circle of influence, or as large as a worldwide following, always keep in mind the following words: CLARITY, AUTHENTICITY, VALUE, and IMPACT. I’ve also put together a great guide with actionable items to work on your personal brand, called 8 Steps to Brand Greatness: The Essential Checklist to Build Your Personal Brand. I so hope you enjoy it.

This article was originally published in the Fall 2014 Issue of VETTA Magazine.