What is personal branding?
Personal branding is the intentional digitization of your reputation.
Everyone has a reputation. It starts with first impressions and builds overtime. Clients, co-workers, bosses, acquaintances, friends, and family all have an impression of you. That’s why the content you put out and the way you present yourself matters.
Reputation is what other people say about you when you’re not around. So, what is the value of your reputation? Does it matter in your industry? Is trust important in your line of business? And what do you do to manage your reputation?
Reputation stems from credibility. Personal branding builds on that credibility and adds visibility, values, and consistency. Allowing you to tailor your content and direct how you want people to see you. The power of personal branding lies in its intentional design. Curated to best serve your audience and achieve your goals.
More importantly, personal branding can earn you income, free up time, and help you make a greater impact. By investing in your name and reputation you can become the most well-known expert in your space. Think Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gordon Ramsay, or Marie Forleo. All three of them have grown their personal brands to crown them as experts in their field. Now, they earn and work on what matters to them. Commercializing their personal brands to make an impact.
The 5 ROIs of Personal Branding
Credibility and Visibility
Amplifying Trust
Magnetizing Opportunities
Networking Effects
Future Proofing Yourself
1) Credibility and Visibility
72% of millennials believe someone with a well-established personal brand is a credible source of expertise. Often, people become experts in their field but what they struggle with is visibility.
A strong brand allows you to overcome that obstacle. By consistently producing content you stay in the minds of your audience. It's why top-of-mind leads to tip-of-tongue. Personal branding raises awareness of you and your services. Resulting in greater trust and more calls for your business.
2) Personal Branding Fosters Trust
Consider how celebrity endorsements work. Dwayne Johnson promotes products like ZOA energy, Teremana Tequila, and Under Armour. People hear his endorsements and go on to buy those products. Kylie Jenner launched Kylie Cosmetics. Generating over $420 million in sales in 18 months. Elon Musk refuses to market his businesses. Yet, both, Tesla and SpaceX are well-known because of his personal brand. People recognize celebrities. And that recognition translates to trust. Resulting in consumers making purchases of those products. The bottom line is we buy from people we know and trust.
Research reveals that 74% of Americans are more likely to trust someone with an established personal brand. This is especially true for Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. When people consume your content they know: who you are, what you stand for, and what to expect from you. As you become an authority in your space, trust follows.
3) Magnetize Opportunities
Most people toil on in obscurity. Only by highlighting your personal brand can you rise to renown. Opportunities gravitate towards you as your personal brand grows and becomes more visible. Like a powerful magnet, you will attract new prospects. For example, Prime Sports drinks approached Logan Paul and KSI to become their spokespeople. In 2022, it was reported over $250 million in retail sales was generated due to their endorsements. Attention attracts opportunities.
A strong personal brand entices new business. People will look to collaborate with you. Employers will want to hire you. While clients will line up to work with you. Research shows that 62% of millennials are more likely to do business with someone who has a personal brand vs. someone without one. As your personal brand grows so do the opportunities that gravitate towards you.
4) Networking Effects
As your name spreads, people will seek you out. Professional communities, conferences, masterminds, and meetups will welcome your presence. Invites to speak at events will arise from these influential groups.
Becoming a thought leader in your field also expands your social network. Peer-to-peer sharing results in more followers on social media. While, occasions to connect with industry leaders become more common. Publications, news outlets, and podcasts may also reach out for contributions and appearances. Driving greater publicity for your name.
Consistently sharing your insights also opens up leadership opportunities. Businesses want their advisory board members to have a personal brand. Businesses with well-known executives are viewed as 82% more influential and 61% more trustworthy. A strong personal brand can catapult you into executive roles.
5) Future Proof Yourself
Whether self-employed or working for a corporation, personal branding has a halo effect on your company. Value is seen by everyone who interacts with your brand. This makes the well-branded individual more essential to the companies success. You become a linchpin that generates new business and represents the industry. It becomes more difficult to let you resign. Also, compensation grows to reflect your added value.
More importantly, investing in your name and reputation helps you future proof yourself. Your personal brand becomes an asset you 100% own. Yes, it takes time, effort, and money to yield results but building a brand is a long-term strategy. As your platform grows so does your ability to leverage it. Allowing you to productize your brand and monetize your name.
Personal branding is the future. If you want to control the impression you make then personal branding is the move. A strong personal brand will result in greater credibility, visibility, and impact. Through consistency, personal branding is a trust accelerator. By developing your name as an asset, opportunities will seek you out and your network will grow. Rise out of obscurity and into renown as you build your personal brand.