Building your personal brand while working inside a company is one of the smartest things you can do for your career. With a strong personal brand, you will be known for your skill set and unique outlook on your industry. Not only does it provide you with a strong network, it elevates your company's brand as a benefit.
Don't skip the first part of this series, as I outline how to leverage your skills and choose your audience.
Now it's time to get your message out to the masses, be seen and be heard.
Publish NLP-Driven Content
It’s no secret publishing consistent content across various online platforms is a surefire way to start building your personal brand, but the problem I often notice is that most people think they must create overwhelming amounts of content. I witness most people creating massive amounts of content for the sake of “getting content out there” and neglecting the actual quality and effectiveness of the content along the way.
Creating content to build your personal brand is about quality over quantity. You don’t need to publish three pieces of content per day in order to see massive results. One lesser-known secret that corporate executives should know is that focusing on creating NLP-driven content will produce quicker results.
NLP, (neuro-linguistic programming) is a methodology for accessing the way people’s minds are designed to work, with the goal of making people more successful. It’s also the secret weapon used by the world’s best copywriters, marketers, and salesmen.
Put simply, if you want your content to be worth it and actually produce tangible results (AKA ethically persuade someone to do what you want, grow your number of followers on social media, or increase sales for a campaign you’re in charge of), you’ll want to take the time to learn at least the basic principles of NLP.
Publishing quality, compelling and persuasive content online will help you attract a following of targeted people and capture the attention of those who matter (i.e. - the people who can help rapidly advance your career).
In an email conversation with Amy Curran, certified NLP trainer and founder of 2EmpowerYou, she advised, “As far as using NLP content/copywriting to build your personal brand, you must first understand that some of the best copywriters on the planet are actually hypnotists, and this is the “Linguistics” part of NLP. I recommend taking a course in Conversational Hypnosis to learn how to use language and language patterns which will help you puts prospects in a persuasive state of intense desire for you, your outstanding brand and your excellent service or product. People make decisions based on feelings, not logic, which is why NLP copy speaks to the subconscious mind, the domain of the emotions.”
Get Visible
Most people think publishing content online is enough to build a strong personal brand that attracts high-value opportunities, but content is only one piece of the puzzle.
In order to build a personal brand that results in your dream opportunity, you must take it one step further and deliberately put yourself out there in order to close the gap between you and the people you want to attract. You must in fact be very intentional with who you want/need to get in front of, and then craft a strategic plan to make yourself visible in your workplace and out.
Though there are several ways to boost your visibility, the most effective online strategies for executives building their personal brand include partaking in interviews, podcasts, PR/media, and influencer marketing to name a few.
If you know what podcasts your target audience listens to on a regular basis, pitch the podcast host explaining the value you could provide their audience. If you know what publications your target audience reads on a regular basis, pitch an editor at the publication with some article ideas and explain the value you could provide their audience.
All strategies work on the same fundamentals: you become exposed to your target audience through people who already have direct access to them, and your visibility becomes greatly boosted as a result. Being seen by the right people is critical to landing dream opportunities and advancing your career.
When I reached out to Diana Mandell, human psychology and attraction specialist, she exclaimed, “Building your personal brand is a lot like dating. You have to put yourself out there and make yourself seen if you want to attract life-changing opportunities. You don’t meet your soulmate by staying in a bubble hidden away from the world - the same goes for attracting high-level career opportunities. You have to deliberately put yourself out there, in the right places, at the right times, to be seen by the right people and ultimately get what you want.”
Remember, Consistency Is Key
Any successful entrepreneur like Tony Robbins or Oprah Winfrey will tell you that success does not happen overnight. Building a personal brand is no different - the secret to building a reputable, globally-recognized personal brand is plain and simple consistency.
Just as doing one sit up doesn’t result in a 6-pack of abs, posting one piece of content online doesn’t set you miles apart from your competition.
Setting yourself apart from competitors, building trust with the right people, and becoming popular as the go-to expert in your area happens when you show up for yourself and your goals daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. The most successful personal brands are the ones who’ve cultivated trust with the right people, and as you know, trust takes time.
To keep your momentum high and stay consistent while working toward your branding goals, I recommend having an accountability partner as well as keeping a log of how often you are taking action (publishing content on your social media platforms, appearing in podcasts, engaging with people directly in your target market, etc).
Staying consistent with your personal branding efforts on a day-to-day basis is about keeping your end-goal in sight and in mind. Take time each day to imagine exactly what it will feel like to become a catalyst for your entire company’s brand, and better yet - distinguish yourself from all other highly-qualified executives.
“Brand consistency is the delivery of your brand’s identity and values over time. It can directly affect what people think about your company. It’s a slow and steady strategy, but if done correctly and consistently, your brand’s visual and overall message will establish trust with your target audience. Your brand will become the “go-to” or the authority in your industry. Simply put, customers trust brands they recognize, and consistency makes your brand feel more dependable”, notes Dominica Lumazar in her book Empowered: The Business Owner’s Guide to Leadership and Success.
Even if you aren't an entrepreneur, building your personal brand as a corporate executive is just as valuable to you and your company. It brings awareness to your specific skill set and the value the company brings to the market.
6 Ways To Build Your Personal Brand And Move Your Entire Company Forward: Part 2
