Personal branding is crucial for entrepreneurs who want to establish their reputations and become thought leaders in their industry. By creating a solid personal brand, you can reinforce your value as a business leader and unlock new opportunities for professional development.
According to the founder of Social Marketing Solutions and former Inc. Magazine Columnist John White, entrepreneurs must view their profession as a craft requiring routine attention and focus. “The first thing you must remember is you are your brand. “Your topic competency is an asset,” says White. “Like the old cliche, a tree falling in the forest without making a sound,’ you need to publicize your messages to capitalize on your expertise.”
A sophisticated personal brand can advance your visibility and influence and benefit your business’s brand and reach. That’s why many companies invest in personal branding for their leaders.
What exactly is personal branding for entrepreneurs? It involves leveraging the power of social media and content marketing to create influential messaging that attracts the right opportunities. White explains, “Personal branding allows entrepreneurs to attract the ideal opportunity. Finding the right career move does not need to feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Instead, you can employ a personal branding campaign to acquire the most promising companies knocking on your door, inspired and prepared to present your employment.” However, some entrepreneurs may need to be more open to personal branding.
According to White, the five main reasons are:
- Not knowing how to create a unique branding campaign effectively.
- Thinking it requires too much work.
- Believing the monetary barrier to entry is too high.
- Assuming the corporate brand is all that matters.
- Not considering personal branding part of their job.
White coaches entrepreneurs that personal branding campaigns are effortless to produce and remarkably inexpensive. “You can obtain the institution and promotion of a personal branding campaign for less than the cost of a week’s salary,” he says. A successful personal brand can help entrepreneurs get noticed by recruiters, executive search firms, key decision-makers, clients, event hosts, and the media.
To build a successful personal brand, entrepreneurs need to be strong in the following pillars of influence, according to White: Great content and communication skills. “Educate and entertain with your content,” he says.
Social media presence. “Optimizing your social media presence is essential to personal branding,” he advises. White also notes that general thought leadership support is necessary for entrepreneurs to succeed. If you need an in-house communications team to deliver advice, ghostwriting, messaging, consultation, and event schedules, he recommends scheduling a meeting to discuss your brand.
Personal branding is not optional for entrepreneurs who want to establish their reputation and attract the right opportunities. By following these best practices from John White, you can create a powerful personal brand that sets you apart as a thought leader in your industry.
What about PR and media placements? They are also essential components of personal branding for entrepreneurs. Securing media placements can help entrepreneurs establish their credibility as experts and amplify their message to a broader audience.
According to White, “PR is about managing your reputation, and media placements help entrepreneurs to build credibility as thought leaders in their industry.” Getting featured in prominent publications, podcasts, TV/radio shows, or speaking at events can significantly enhance an entrepreneur’s brand.
So, how can entrepreneurs successfully land media placements? Here are some tips from John White:
- Know your audience: Before reaching out to any media outlet, understand their audience and the type of content they seek. Your pitch needs to align with their editorial style and tone.
- Offer value: When contacting the media, focus on how your expertise can provide value to their audience. Share insights, trends, and data that can be helpful to their readers/listeners/viewers.
- Build relationships: Personal branding is all about building relationships, and the same goes for securing media placements. Networking, connecting with journalists on social media, and attending events can help you establish a rapport with media professionals.
- Be persistent: Landing media placements can take time and effort, so keep going after a few rejections. Keep pitching your story and offer unique angles that set you apart from others in your industry.
Incorporating these tips into your personal branding strategy can enhance your credibility, increase your visibility, and attract new opportunities. Personal branding and PR go hand in hand, and entrepreneurs who invest in both can see significant business growth.
Personal branding is crucial for entrepreneurs to establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Entrepreneurs can create a powerful personal brand by focusing on great content, social media presence, and thought leadership. In addition, securing media placements can help establish credibility. By following these best practices, entrepreneurs can create a successful personal branding campaign and grow their businesses.
