Personal Branding: Take Your Brand to the Next Level

For a business owner who has begun to develop his or her personal brand, with moderate success, there often comes a point at which they think “what’s next?” Typically, a personal brand is built in steps—first may be entering the world of social media, or simply focusing more on building relationships with clients and prospects. If you are in that situation, looking for strategies to take your brand to the next level, this article is for you. Below are four steps to help you create a dominant personal brand:

1) Write and publish a book. These days, it is hard to be considered an expert without writing a book. Conversely, being able to add “author” to your credentials provides an injection of credibility—even if few people read your book! Publishing a book discussing your industry and highlighting your expertise immediately takes your personal brand to a new height. And while the process of writing a book and having it published may seem daunting, it can actually be a simple process—enjoyable, even! If you’re interested, contact me and I’ll help you get started!

2) Seek out speaking opportunities. To further enhance your credibility and gain additional exposure, look for opportunities to speak on topics relating to your industry. Whether it is trade associations, conferences, or networking events, take as many opportunities to speak as you can. I understand that public speaking may seem intimidating—but trust me, after you’ve done it once or twice, you’ll start to enjoy it.

3) Appear on TV & radio broadcasts. Nothing screams “expert” like appearing on TV and the radio! And while you can’t simply walk to your local media outlet and ask them to let you on the air, it’s not as difficult as you may think to appear on these platforms. I’d be glad to tell you more about this process. Not only is a TV or radio appearance a great credibility booster—but it also introduces you to a large audience that likely has never heard of you. It’s a win-win situation!

4) Create a comprehensive internet presence that establishes your credibility. These days, most people who are looking for professional service conduct a Google search before doing anything else. If a prospective client searches for your name on Google, what will they find? Will they find a professional website with plenty of valuable content? Will they find a confusing mess of information and an unprofessional site? Will they find nothing at all? If you don’t have a great website, it may not matter how well-established you are as an expert in your field. Don’t take that chance—make sure that you have an internet presence that reflects your expertise!

These four steps, if properly executed, can help you create a personal brand that allows you to dominate your market. However, remember to stay consistent and true to the core of your brand. If you’d like help planning and executing any of these strategies, contact me today! (http://www.jwdicks.com/contact)