Ask the Expert – Personal Branding

Question: I have heard the term Personal Branding but I really do not understand what it means.

Answer: Personal Branding refers to how people view someone from either a personal or professional level. In business, it is a matter of do you meet the expectations of your peers and how much personal involvement do you demonstrate. Personal Branding also refers to your reputation, ethics and how you conduct yourself.

Question: Since I have been in the business world for a few years how do I determine the current value of my Personal Brand?   

Answer: My best suggestion is to talk with three or four of your peers from both your organization and those who are either your competitor, client or business partner. Ask them how they perceive you and where you have room or improve. With each individual, you will have a different value, based on how you impact them either professionally or from your in personal interaction. If you want your Personal Brand to be an asset, you need to understand what is expected of you from these colleagues and how you need to model your business practices to be the one each of them see as a business partner.

Question: Is there a Zenith in the way of Personal Branding?

Answer: There is, and it is known as, “Loyalty beyond Reason.” This is a situation when you may receive either business or consideration of a request beyond what might normally be expected. In this situation, you have created the loyalty of someone or an organization that feels you show concern for their needs above yours and that you are their champion in any situation.

Question: Can I use Social Media to boost my Personal Brand?

Answer: Let me suggest you consult an expert in your own field who handles Social Media on a full time basis. Each industry has its own design on how they use this medium so consulting with an expert in your specific field is essential.

One part of Personal Branding you need to remember is people buy or interact with people they know, like and trust. A computer cannot shake someone’s hand or have a conversation. Personal Branding comes from Personal Interaction with your colleagues and peers, not strokes on a key board.