Originally Published Mar. 7, 2017
You probably already know it’s important to have a personal brand. Creating a personal brand that others recognize and trust is essential to success as a freelancer or as any other business owner.
Now, you’ve probably already built something of a personal brand. You probably have a branded website and all the requisite social media accounts. So what next? Here are five things you can do to take your brand to the next level.
Review Your Strengths
One of the best things you can do to keep working on your personal brand is to review your strengths. Periodically look at what you bring to the table.
Have you developed new strengths? What are your best qualities? Understanding your strengths will help you determine how to make the most of your brand. Plus, you can highlight those strengths and play them up.
Understand Your Value
Now that you know your strengths, you can put them to good use. Understand your value.
How do you fit into your industry? Do your strengths lend you the ability to provide value that others can’t? You need to be clear about that.
As you strengthen your brand, make sure you illustrate the value you bring to the table. You want others to know what you offer. Whether through a business proposition or freelancing, you want to make sure that you provide solid value and communicate that value.
Post Meaningfully on Social Media
You might have social media profiles, but are you doing anything meaningful with them? As you work to strengthen your personal brand, you must ensure that what you post online adds something to the conversation. Do you provide meaningful insights into your industry? Do you offer value? Do you share information others find useful?
These are important things to consider. If you take the time to craft thought-out online posts, you will have a better chance of creating a brand others value and want to follow.
Show Authenticity
Whether managing a business or offering great freelance content, you must be authentic. Your personal brand should reflect who you really are. Someone who meets you in person should feel as though the face you show online is compatible.
Be yourself. After a while, it becomes clear when you are fake, and that can show through. People like to feel like they know you, and you can create a brand that people identify with to increase your success.
Tweak as Needed
Just because you want to be authentic doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change. The key to a strong personal brand is the ability to adapt and tweak as needed.
Keep improving yourself. As you do so, your brand will improve as well. As you learn new skills and information, update your brand and value proposition. It’s a good way to stay up to date with the latest developments. You’ll remain relevant and continue to offer customers and clients the best value.