In the past few years personal branding has been discussed exhaustively throughout the internet. The difference between today and say ten years ago is the rise of social technologies that have made branding not only more personal, but within reach.

From the corporate brand (ex. Audi), to the product brand (ex. Audi A6) and down to the personal brand (internet network marketer), branding is a critical component to a customer’s purchasing decision. These days, customer complaints and opinions can be found and viewed online from a simple search on Google or through any of the social networks we frequently utilize. The days of hiding are long gone. Transparency and authenticity are the only means of survival and the only way to thrive in this new digital kingdom.

Many people think that personal branding is just for celebrities, yet each and every one of us is a brand. Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others. As a brand, we can leverage the same strategies that make these celebrities or corporate brands appeal to others. We can build brand equity just like them.

We can also have just as much presence as most start-ups and mid-size companies and products. Social media tools have leveled the playing field and have enabled us to reach incredible heights, at the cost of our time. Today, I want to share the personal branding process, so you can start to think about what face you want to show to the world and how you want to position yourself for success!

1. Discover your brand

The single biggest mistake people make is that they either brand themselves just for the sake of doing it or they fail to invest time in learning about what’s in their best interests. The key to success, and this isn’t revolutionary, is to be compensated based on your passion. In order to find your passion, you need a lot of time to think and do some research online to figure out what’s out there.

Brand discovery is about figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Setting goals, writing down a mission, vision and personal brand statement (what you do and who you serve), as well as creating a development plan. Have you ever been called intelligent or humorous by your peers or coworkers? That description is part of your brand, especially if you feel those attributed pertain to you. To know if you’ve discovered your brand, you need to balance this equation:

Your self-impression = How people perceive you

Before you enter the next step in the personal branding process, you’ll want to select a niche, whereby you can be the master of your domain. For example, my good friend Nicole S. Cooper has positioned herself as one of the top “gurus” in the social media realm. She put her tireless work ethic and skills to work for her. She’s one of the top earners in her network marketing company and an internet marketing force to be reckoned with. She worked hard to develop her brand and I count it among my blessings to be able to learn from her.

2. Create your brand

Now that you know what you want to do and have claimed a niche, at least in your mind, it’s time to get it on paper and online. The sum of all the marketing material you should develop for your brand is called a Personal Branding Toolkit. This kit consists of the following elements that you can use to highlight your brand and allow people to easily see what you’re about:

1. Business card: It doesn’t matter if you’re a college student, CEO, or a consultant, everyone should have their own business card. The card should contain your personal brand statement (ex. Nashville Financial Expert), as well as your *preferred* contact information and a branded logo of some sort. A picture of yourself is a good touch too.

2. Resume/cover letter/references document: These are typical documents that you need for applying for jobs and when you go on interviews (something millions of job seekers will be doing as we speak). Wait a minute Eric. I’m not looking for a job. I’m trying to be a full-time network marketer. Why should I bother with this stuff? Stick with me for a minute. I don’t mean a resume in the traditional sense here. As network marketers, our reference documents are the value we give to the market and the relationships we build with people. We watch the top earners in our respective companies (and other companies if you’re smart), mimic the work that they do, then teach it to others.

Connecting with top earners in network marketing has added credibility to my brand. When you “rub elbows” with respected people, others are inclined to respect you. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t have to earn their respect. Credibility doesn’t automatically open that door; but it does reduce the friction in getting it open.

3. Blog/Website: You need to own yourname.com or a website that aligns with your name in some fashion. Do not rely on your company replicated website to build your personal brand. It will not happen. You have no control over your replicated site. It’s purpose is to sign people into your company. Don’t try to force it to do what it is not intended to do.

This list isn’t everything you should have. But it’s a great starting point.

So what’s next?

After you spend the time on these parts of your personal branding toolkit, it’s time to showcase it to the world, especially your target audience. Don’t be fooled by the myth that if you build it, they will come. Unless you’re the luckiest person on earth, you’ll have to actually communicate everything you’ve created to others. And I don’t believe in luck. So let’s get to work.

To You Massive Success,

Eric Williams

P.S. Click Here for in-depth personal training on building your brand and growing your business

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