PERSONAL BRANDING The 10 Biggest mistakes people make

Ten Ways to Break and Sink Your Brand?

Your brand is more fragile than you may imagine. It would be best if you were vigilant in maintaining the standards set for your brand. All it takes is one major mistake, especially one you handle poorly, and all you've built will vanish. Please take a look at these cautions and tips to avoid a brand breakdown.

1. Take it for granted

No matter how well-crafted your brand is, it is never done but goes stale. It is not a one-time event. Staying on top of your brand is a way to set yourself apart from others. If you ignore your brand, you may start looking like everyone else, a dreaded commodity. So keep your brand fresh and continue to grow.

2. Neglect consistency

Being inconsistent is a brand killer. People like to know what to expect; it comforts them and solidifies that they can count on you. Be consistent in marketing yourself, how you dress, and what you say and behave. Maintain a steady brand identity. It builds trust in you.

3. Speak before you think

There is an irony with branding. Your words alone can't build it. It would be best if you had action to back them up. So please be thoughtful in your thoughts and notice your words' impact. Your comments can support or ruin your brand; be careful how you use them.

4. Exhibit bad behaviour

You represent your brand in public (personal or professional). So refrain from fooling yourself into believing that your behaviour only matters in the workspace. Instead, be careful how you behave – even when you think no one is watching.

5. Be unresponsive

Unresponsiveness is dreadful because your lack of response tells everyone you don't respect them. Your behaviour quickly becomes an available part of your brand. Build your brand around serving your audience. Ignore them, and they will ignore you. So keep your brand sharp, and respond.

6. Ignore the happenings around

Being a savvy personal brand means being aware of your surroundings and other nuances. So please pay attention and understand how you'll need to adjust your brand to succeed in all work and professional environments.

7. Have an unprofessional image

You've worked hard to establish yourself with a solid professional image. And then you blow it by posting your picture on social media with a background behind you. Getting crazy occasionally is ok, but why share it all with the world? Could you monitor your public image, related or unrelated? All are watching!

8. Don't speak the truth

Always tell the truth. Being caught in a lie has sunk many good brands. Building your brand on strength means making it a reality.

9. Being a phoney

Genuine personal brands are authentic, meaning you must be 'you'. Building your brand on what you think you 'should' be instead of what you are, you'll fail. The audience will only sustain Phoniness for a while. Only misrepresent and call yourself an expert if you are one.

10. Lose the focus

Being scattered and when you do too many things, you need more focus and clarity about what you stand for. Try to represent yourself as appealing to everyone, actually appealing to no one.