Written on the 1 August 2008 by Rachel Quilty of Jump the Q.
Personal Branding is the art of self packaging. The following 8 tips will help you to brand yourself and jump the queue:
1.Specialisation:
Focus your brand on area of achievement. The best positioning you can have among your prospects and customers is that of an expert, an authority in your area of expertise.
What one area of specialisation will be the most helpful to my brand?
2.Leadership
Three in four people (76%) said that a person’s appearance on the job is likely to affect whether they are taken seriously.
Determine that you want to be the best in your field. Your image is a reflection of what you’re capable of. Do you dress and look like a first class professional?
3.Personality:
What is the best positive personality to support your brand? The best way to be described by clients is as a nice person.
What does your personal image say about you, and your company? Statistics show that people who are bright, verbal and attractive make more money and are more successful.
It may a person’s appearance that captures your attention but it’s their personality that captures your heart.
4.Distinctiveness:
How do you express yourself in a unique way? This can be a gift, a signature or the manner in which you dress. It must be something that distinguishes you. Build your brand edge with a personalised gift that shows you care. More than 70 % of us do not care for advertising. We are looking instead for the human touch. Too many marketers have forgotten one simple truth - human contact is one of our greatest needs.
5. Visibility
You must be seen repeatedly and consistently. Attend networking functions, get involve, go on committees, send thank you note’s. Often people will give a reference or testimonial for no reason other than they are known.
6. Congruency
Your public behaviour should always be consistent with your private behaviour. Treat everyone the same and always be the same. People largely accept you, at least initially, at your own evaluation of yourself. Sales guru, Brian Tracy says “The person you see is the person you will be.” Always be congruent.
7.Be persistent
Be your own Brand. Don’t follow trends, fads. As Judy Garland once said, ‘Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of someone else. ‘
8.Build Rapport
When you dress like a winner, you think, feel and act like a winner. Most people do not know how to dress for success. It pays to design your image to sell. The way you look is a reflection of you and how your product or service works. If you look good, your product or service will be good, and your prices justified. It is well none more presentable or professional people are more persuasive.
Becoming your own unique brand is essential! Improving your image is an investment in building your personal profile, reputation and the results you will achieve. And deserve to achieve.
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Brand Yourself! And Jump the Q! Your personal brand should reflect your abilities and potential. Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist, known as ‘the Authority’ on personal branding and author of must- have book ‘Brand Yourself’. Go to http://www.JumptheQ.com.au for FREE strategic branding tips. Rachel encourages Jump the Q clients to think strategically when developing a personal brand to get that job offer, gain that promotion or win that client.
Jump the Q assists you to strategically and systematically leverage your professional profile and build your personal brand to become the authority in your industry. Get your free personal branding tactics and tips at http://www.brandyourselfblueprint.com
We assist you to develop your Personal Brand Strategy by:
- Discovering your purpose.
- Designing your best personal brand.
- Devising a personal marketing plan.
- Developing your Signature Brand.
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