These days, you can’t browse a career-oriented website without coming across the buzzwords, “personal branding.”

This phrase raises a lot of questions… What is personal branding? How is it different from corporate branding? And how do you develop a positive, distinctive personal brand?

Personal branding is how people remember you or think of you. That can be as simple as your business card, or as complex as your presence on multiple social media channels, speaking gigs, and your influence throughout your industry.

To put it another way, your personal brand is your good old-fashioned reputation.

Whether you put thought into it or not, you have a personal brand.

It’s important to consciously cultivate what you are known for and how people can interact with and follow you. Your personal brand can impact the future of your career and your bottom line – the salary you take home or the revenue your business takes in.

As with a corporate brand, it’s essential you strike the right tone when interacting with followers. However, your personal brand is different than your organization’s brand. It’s your own. You’re in charge of it and your personality should be present.

With that said, all successful personal brands have common threads running through them that you want to be sure to cultivate as you work to develop your own personal brand. Here are 5 traits to be known for as you raise your professional profile…

Generosity – When you hear about “personal branding,” I wouldn’t fault you for thinking it’s a self-centered, egotistical pursuit. But in fact, the opposite can be true. Think about the people you know who have a reputation for making their time and talents available to others. This generous act, along with information-sharing, mentorship, and acknowledging others, are the marks of the best personal brands.

Integrity – Entrepreneurs and professionals with sterling personal brands do the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, regardless of who is watching. People respect truth in business, especially when it’s difficult. That’s why when you give your word, you must do everything within your power to deliver.

Confidence – True, unwavering self-confidence is a powerful attribute that attracts others. Often, confidence is directly proportional to performance. High-performing professionals know what they’re capable of and aren’t afraid to own their success. Or as Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

Sense of Purpose – As you may know, I’m a woman of faith. The principles of my faith guide me not only in my personal relationships, but in my professional life as well. I strive to be a person who lives and conducts my business with honesty, compassion, and a desire to serve others. Whatever your sense of purpose is rooted in, use that “why” to propel your work and your brand to excellence.

Big Picture Thinking – Of course professionals with exemplary reputations master their specific role within their company, but they also keep the big picture in mind. They work collaboratively with other divisions, pursue the advancement of the entire organization, make contacts across their industry, and connect people throughout their network.

So now that you know what your personal brand should represent, you may be wondering how to raise your profile.

How do you promote your excellent personal brand?

• Create a medium to communicate your opinions and beliefs. A blog or newsletter is a great way to do this, but you could discuss your industry or area of expertise on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or a podcast to grow your network and share what you know. Investing your time into building an network of interested followers will reap rewards for years to come in your career.
• Consider how your goals line up with your company’s goals. You know what you want for your career… How does that fall in line with the goals of the organization? For instance, maybe you want to raise your profile and your company wants more clients. Developing your brand around public speaking opportunities would be a smart move aligning both your personal and company’s goals.
• Attend networking events in your local area. Even if your business operates mostly online, your community is still the best place to raise your profile and open new doors. I encourage all of my Celeste Giordano Coaching clients to make attending networking events a priority, and a regular part of their weekly routines. It is an absolutely critical tool for getting your name and face out there in the business community, and one of the most effective ways to build fruitful relationships with new prospects.
• Focus on your greatest strengths. Part of building a great personal brand is differentiating yourself from the rest of the pack by gaining a reputation for what it is that makes you remarkable. This is the intangible “X factor” or special sauce that people experience when they work with you. Find what makes you remarkable – whether it’s the speed of your customer service or throwing an outstanding party for clients – and cultivate your reputation around that strength.
• Get involved in a charitable organization. Being of service to people who need your help in your community by donating your time, talents, or products on a pro bono basis will not only grow your professional network and get your name out there, it will also boost your personal brand because you’ll be known as a person who gives back.

Would you like to promote yourself better to gain an edge on your competition?

I am hosting an upcoming event: Building a Legacy Business Workshop with guest speaker, Deborah Fawaz. This interactive, practical, fun event is taking place at the 1818 Club in Duluth, GA, on July 18 from 10:00 am–2:00 pm. You’ll discover:

• How to build a profitable business that serves your highest core purpose
• The 3 C’s of a “Legacy Mindshift”
• How to move from selling to serving your clients
• The science behind why a first impression matters
• The ultimate system for generating more quality leads in the new economy
• A rehearsed, confident entrance into an interview, potential client meeting, or networking event
• An understanding of how your body language affects others
• A menu of fascinating conversation starters and suggested content
• A complete styling guide: what to wear to specific events, what does color say about you, and consultations about hair and makeup

Find out more about this event that could change the future of your career here.

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Use the code GIORDANO for a 10% Discount!

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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