Blog
The most effective personal brands are built around these 7 key elements
Rebecca McIntyre
Head of Operations
26 May 20

When you are the face of your business, having a killer personal brand is what distinguishes you from your competitors. This helps to form a lasting impression and be the forefront to your target audience and customers.  If your personal brand is not compelling enough to attract your audience then you may find yourself struggling to build a business that is profitable and sustainable.

The key elements for you to focus on when building your personal brand are:

1. Goals and Values:

You need to be clear about what your brand stands for and this will start when you know what your short term and long term goals are. Do you have your goals written down with an actionable plan? You are more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Writing your goals down not only forces you to get clear on what you want but also how to accomplish them. Also, doing this plays a part in motivating you to complete tasks necessary for success.

2. Professional identity:

When you have a personal brand this helps to build trust with your audience and position you as an authority and a thought leader in your niche target market. When you’re positioned as an expert, it’s also easier for people to refer clients to you. A good rule to remember is always be a specialist, never a generalist.

3. Authentic Brand Statement:

When you have a strong personal brand story you are able to communicate and inspire your target audience with what sets you apart. Using your own brand voice allows your audience to feel like they know you and your brand making it more memorable and easier to connect to you. A personal brand statement should be memorable, punchy, and solution-oriented.

4. Online and Offline Identifies:

Your personal brand is your reputation and how this is perceived by others. It is important that the information about you in the online and offline world is aligned with your brand image and message. If you create a great image online and that is no way close to real life, you may not be able to maintain your brand. Brand is about values and trust. You always need to be honest with yourself and present yourself in an authentic way. It is key to build a brand that is relevant and represents the best of you and is meaningful to your target audience.

5. Target Audience:

When building a personal brand, you need to stay focused and position yourself as the go-to expert in a specific industry or niche and don’t spread yourself too thin. It is critical for your success as no-one wants to buy from someone that does everything for everyone. Understand how your target audience will benefit from you the most and zero in on this service.

6. Your Value

When crafting your personal brand, you need to understand your core values because they are the heart of who you are and what drives you.  You need to be useful to your audience and valuable. You need to be very intentional about creating a brand that resonates with your audience, otherwise, other people will create it for you and potential business opportunities may slip through your fingertips.

7. Competitors

You have to set yourself apart in an online space, where you are competing with other brands for the attention of your target audience. Understanding who your competition is, is incredibly important, as you need to understand what they are doing and how they are doing this. You also need to understand what your advantages are over your competition. Knowing what your competitors are doing will help set you apart from them and limit your chance of failure. 

Please download our personal branding worksheet to help assist with your personal branding.