How to Win at Personal Branding And Avoid Mishaps

When you hear the phrase personal branding, how do you respond?

Do you cringe at the audacity of someone having his or her own brand?

Or do you stand up and cheer?

Personal branding is one of those buzzwords that has lost some of its luster from misuse.

Yet, done right, it can turn a nobody into a somebody.

Done wrong, it's like shouting in the wind and not being heard.

Why does it often go awry?

Unfortunately, people forget some basic rules about personal branding. They think if they call themselves an expert that prestige, and respect will follow. When in fact a fancy title has nothing to do with personal branding.

To ensure you don't veer off the personal branding success path, here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Thinking it's all about you

An effective personal brand is not about how wonderful you are. It's all about how you help your audience with its challenges.

Remember: No one cares that you're amazing. People want to know how you can help them.

Failing to niche

You can't be all things to all people.

If you do that, you might as well be one of those giant buffets where there's too much of everything and nothing's tasty. Where you feel cheated, confused, and overwhelmed.

Similarly, don't choose a niche that's so small you can't make any money. I'm talking about niches like serving all left-handed people with birthmarks who are scared of public speaking. If you find even a few of them, you'll be lucky.

Lack of consistency

I once worked with a young woman I'll call Myrna, who used multiple names. She was Myrna Small on one platform, Myrna Ann Small on another, and Myrna Marie Small on yet another.

To make things worse, she focused on different services under her different names.

Who was the real Myrna Small?

It was confusing. All she did was dilute her brand.

Lack of authenticity

Don't pretend to be something you're not.

Don't you hate it when someone has been doing something for a month and positions himself as an expert?

Don't pretend you're an expert in an area you know little about. People will see through you.

And don't claim the mantle of perfection.

People want to know you have had your ups and downs. That makes you human and relatable.

Neglecting your online presence

Don't create a LinkedIn profile and forget about it.

I've worked with people who didn't realize they had multiple LinkedIn profiles. They had created one many moons ago and simply forgot about it.

I've also worked with people whose last recommendation was from 2013. It appeared like they were now doing something that didn't merit a recommendation.

Personal branding, done right, can be a powerful tool for professional growth and success. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can safeguard your personal brand and ensure it works in your favor.

What have you found helpful in establishing your personal brand? Please share in the comments.

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I help experienced professionals nail their messaging, positioning, branding, and grow their business and career. Schedule a free Power Positioning call with me.

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