Communicate your Personal Brand

Think your brand is polished and ready? The most exciting part is next: Communicating it.

This part about putting your most creative shoes on in showing your brand and showing up for it.

Here’s a step-by-step I’ve prepared for you to make it easier to go through this process. I know for a fact that even for the most extroverted personality it can be hard to create an online presence that is just the right balance -- the kind that doesn’t come off as too strong, too weak, or looks like you’re just trying too hard.

So here’s a good reference you can use and hopefully as you get more used to it, you develop a style and system that personally works for you.

1. Update your social media profiles

Make sure all your usernames match, your profile photos are showing you as the person you want to be seen as and are the same across all channels and so is your headline and your background.

Even if you think these are all small details – that exactly is what a strong Brand has: clarity, consistency and continuity.

In the end, repetition is what makes people remember you. The more familiar you become and the more consistently you show up in a certain way, the more trust you build. That is what moves the needle.

2. Have a clear positioning statement

Combine your what, how and for whom instead of having your role title. It’s a lot more powerful and memorable.

Examples could be:

Combining analytics with creativity to drive business results in the finance industry – Data-driven Marketing | Human-centred design thinking

Or

Telling compelling company stories through visual branding | Brand Photography | Commercial Photographer 

It should create some curiosity but also involve keywords that people would look for. Remember – be clear rather than clever.

3. Get  people involved

In order for you to achieve your goals, you have to have people in your corner. The chances that your next career opportunity will come from a referral or someone you know are high given 70% of jobs never get advertised.

Start reaching out to people and connect, have conversations about a shared interest.

Thanks to social media, connecting can now happen in just seconds even if you are continents away.

However, don’t expect to get immediate results. Go in with an open mind and an open conversation. Try and get to know the person, be curious, add value, share insights, ask questions, make introductions, volunteer your time and expertise.

All those things contribute to you building your personal brand. This is what opens doors, it will not just get you closer to your goals but also creates a cascade of bigger opportunities than you can even think of right now.

This is what the Future of Work requires from you – to step up, to show up and to share your value so you can create value for others. 

Now I want to hear from you:

1. What makes you different?

2. What’s your story?

3. What do you want to be known for? What are you working towards?

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I'm Petra Zink, specialised in preparing individuals, teams and businesses for the Future of Work by building strong Brands that can be monetised and allow for re-invention based on their point of difference

I am a certified Personal Branding and Digital Strategist, an official Forbes Coaches Council member, online educator, the host of the Future of Work Campus membership and the Podcast, and have been featured on Forbes, news.com.au, Marie Claire, Get it Magazine, as well as on various podcasts.

I've helped over 300 professionals in reinventing and pivoting in their career so they can make a bigger impact, including mine at one point in time.