It was a small networking event—an open house meet-and-greet, so to speak. Being one of the first to arrive, there were only a handful of people there, including one girl whose face was strikingly familiar.
Immediately I felt I recognized her, but I couldn’t quite place her face. Was it school, work, or perhaps a friend of a friend? I just couldn’t remember! But, sooner or later, I knew, she was going to approach me—after all, there were so few of us who showed up this early. I made my way over to the refreshments—racking my brain trying to place her. Finally, I just decided to head over, introduce myself, and see if some small-talk would trigger my memory.
Her name was Jane Greensmith (name changed for privacy reasons), but she introduced herself as though she hadn’t met me before, and even offered me her business card. And that’s when it all clicked: I hadn’t actually met her before! My memory didn’t fail me! (Well, not entirely anyways.) Her business card was stamped with her well-branded profile picture, the same profile picture that she had on LinkedIn where she postes updates and articles on a regular basis.
I had never met Jane before, but noticed her status updates filled my social media feeds and we shared a number of professional connections, so I eventually added her as one of my own connections. The moment I received her business card, I realized she was the epitome of personal branding. She had created such a strong online presence through her brand, that even before I met her, I thought I already knew her.
It is because of Jane Greensmith that I came to understand just how powerful personal branding can be if you’re a professional looking to really establish yourself within your chosen career. And with that, I bring to you:
5 Tips for Developing Your Personal Brand
Streamline the Design
The design of your brand is like nonverbal communication: You could be saying all the right things, but if you’re using baby pink font on your résume and have Hello Kitty pictures on your website, you might not be taken as seriously as you’d like. Consider the tone and feel that you want to portray, and be mindful of how your font style and colour scheme reflect that.
Secondly, be consistent with your font style and colours throughout all of your branding materials—résume/cover letter letterhead, business cards, Twitter, blogs, websites, etc. Make it easy for people to recognize your brand.
Avoid the “Selfie” Headshot
A professional looking picture—particularly on your LinkedIn profile—goes a long way. That’s not to say that you have to get a professional set of headshots taken; however, at the very least, ask a friend to take an individual picture of you. Stay away from selfies or failed cropped photos where your best friend’s shoulder is still in the frame. And of course, smile! A smiling face is always a more welcome first impression.
Say it with a Tagline
If you could describe your brand in 3 words, what would they be? Your tagline can be used as your LinkedIn headline or Twitter bio, on your website, or even as the footer on your resume. Of course, it should be professional, but adding a little creative flair is what makes a brand memorable. Check out some of the bios of professionals you look up to on Twitter to get some ideas.
Find a Platform to Showcase Your Work
LinkedIn now allows you to add in special projects, but depending on what skill sets you want to highlight, you may be looking for a larger space to showcase your pieces of work and accomplishments. You may consider your own website or online portfolio through such free sites as Wix or Weebly.
Be Genuine
At the end of the day, a brand isn’t a brand if it isn’t truly you. Before creating your brand, take some time to reflect on the values, skills, passions and traits that define you. Think of how you want to represent yourself professionally and what you want hiring managers and professional peers to know about you.
There you have it: create a strong brand and online presence, and before you know it, people may begin to think they’ve met you before they’ve really met you!for more info, check out avant career
Immediately I felt I recognized her, but I couldn’t quite place her face. Was it school, work, or perhaps a friend of a friend? I just couldn’t remember! But, sooner or later, I knew, she was going to approach me—after all, there were so few of us who showed up this early. I made my way over to the refreshments—racking my brain trying to place her. Finally, I just decided to head over, introduce myself, and see if some small-talk would trigger my memory.
Her name was Jane Greensmith (name changed for privacy reasons), but she introduced herself as though she hadn’t met me before, and even offered me her business card. And that’s when it all clicked: I hadn’t actually met her before! My memory didn’t fail me! (Well, not entirely anyways.) Her business card was stamped with her well-branded profile picture, the same profile picture that she had on LinkedIn where she postes updates and articles on a regular basis.
I had never met Jane before, but noticed her status updates filled my social media feeds and we shared a number of professional connections, so I eventually added her as one of my own connections. The moment I received her business card, I realized she was the epitome of personal branding. She had created such a strong online presence through her brand, that even before I met her, I thought I already knew her.
It is because of Jane Greensmith that I came to understand just how powerful personal branding can be if you’re a professional looking to really establish yourself within your chosen career. And with that, I bring to you:
5 Tips for Developing Your Personal Brand
Streamline the Design
The design of your brand is like nonverbal communication: You could be saying all the right things, but if you’re using baby pink font on your résume and have Hello Kitty pictures on your website, you might not be taken as seriously as you’d like. Consider the tone and feel that you want to portray, and be mindful of how your font style and colour scheme reflect that.
Secondly, be consistent with your font style and colours throughout all of your branding materials—résume/cover letter letterhead, business cards, Twitter, blogs, websites, etc. Make it easy for people to recognize your brand.
Avoid the “Selfie” Headshot
A professional looking picture—particularly on your LinkedIn profile—goes a long way. That’s not to say that you have to get a professional set of headshots taken; however, at the very least, ask a friend to take an individual picture of you. Stay away from selfies or failed cropped photos where your best friend’s shoulder is still in the frame. And of course, smile! A smiling face is always a more welcome first impression.
Say it with a Tagline
If you could describe your brand in 3 words, what would they be? Your tagline can be used as your LinkedIn headline or Twitter bio, on your website, or even as the footer on your resume. Of course, it should be professional, but adding a little creative flair is what makes a brand memorable. Check out some of the bios of professionals you look up to on Twitter to get some ideas.
Find a Platform to Showcase Your Work
LinkedIn now allows you to add in special projects, but depending on what skill sets you want to highlight, you may be looking for a larger space to showcase your pieces of work and accomplishments. You may consider your own website or online portfolio through such free sites as Wix or Weebly.
Be Genuine
At the end of the day, a brand isn’t a brand if it isn’t truly you. Before creating your brand, take some time to reflect on the values, skills, passions and traits that define you. Think of how you want to represent yourself professionally and what you want hiring managers and professional peers to know about you.
There you have it: create a strong brand and online presence, and before you know it, people may begin to think they’ve met you before they’ve really met you!for more info, check out avant career
