Though it may sound like a high-concept marketing idea, personal branding is actually a very simple way of selling yourself as a package. This can be done in the same way that one would sell a service or product, with identifying the consumer that you will be selling to, and then figuring out how to best serve their needs. With the advent of internet marketing, usually this is done solely online these days. Both image and branding are best done with the help of a marketing professional if one is just starting out. A virtual assistant could be a very valuable tool towards helping a person promote themselves online.
One of the best examples of personal branding is from entrepreneurs such as Donald Trump, who puts his last name on all of his products, including the very buildings that he sells. For many large scale business people, their image is just as important as their products or services. Any celebrity chef is another good example of this phenomenon. For small business owners, this of course will take on a smaller scale, and is undertaken more to sell their own business services online. This means getting their name out there as a recognizable brand, in the first place. Whereas larger businesses build their foundation on the product first, with smaller businesses, the name should be out there as a means of selling the service.
Currently, many personal branding services fall under the umbrella of self-help. While in the past, most self-help courses or conferences revolved around the idea of raising self-esteem, in today’s business–driven market, selling oneself in the effort towards betterment is seen as a good thing. Indeed, it is. Studies show that having job satisfaction brings about an overall feeling of well-being. This makes sense, in that with the ability to work less hours and make more money, people are able to find time to spend with their families and other loved ones, and to partake in the hobbies that they most enjoy.
A good way to jumpstart personal branding is to first define what your best characteristics are, and what it is about yourself that you are trying to sell to others. Making a well-defined list can be a great way to do this. Then, with this in tow, creating a webpage promoting your services is a good idea to add visibility. The next step would be promoting this website, and ensuring that it is easily found when consumers are browsing the internet. Adding valuable keywords that describe your professional skills to the internet copy will make sure that this happens. Finally, when the consumers are able to find your site, take care that it is user-friendly, and visually appealing. Following all of these techniques will make sure that you are sellable as a brand.
