4 Self-Defeating Mistakes that People Make When Developing Personal Brands

  Any person with good professional instincts understands that personal branding is important.  Personal branding is a big part of career etiquette.  Not only does a strong personal brand create good first impressions, it projects competence and preparedness.  In a perfect world, everybody would know how to build a refined personal brand.  Unfortunately, most people have blind spots and loose ends which needlessly spoil their public image.

Personal Branding Shows that you Mean Business:

Marketing Executive Adam Heitzman suggests that “A personal brand isn’t that much different from a business brand. Instead of marketing a store or product, you’re marketing yourself. Building up a personal brand has a ton of benefits, both personally and professionally, and it can help open many doors for you in the future.” Here are a few harmful slip-ups that people make with personal branding:

1.    Failing to Zero-In on a Specific Identity:

Before taking the time to brand yourself in any way, it’s important to understand exactly who you are as an individual.  Are you a formal type of a person, or are you more casual?  Are you opinionated, or more easy-going?  The nature of your identity should dictate what type of brand you eventually design.

2.    Being Selective About When to Brand:

The whole point of branding is to display a consistent and authentic image no matter what the situation. At all times. Your brand should be discernible when meeting people in person, and it should also be discernible during indirect encounters.

3.    Neglecting to Cater to a Target Audience:

If your personal brand is meant to connect with a specific type of audience, remember to do things that your target audience will find acceptable.  Similarly, if your personal brand is meant to be universally appealing, remember to broadcast yourself in a neutral way.

4.    Hypocritical Lifestyle:

Deliberately contradicting the character of a personal brand is a mistake.  It’s a mistake that people interpret as dishonesty and betrayal.  Personal branding isn’t just about talking the talk.  It’s also about walking the walk.

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, personal branding is a process that depends on one skill in particular.  Attention to detail.  The more energy people put into polishing their appearance, the more sophisticated a personal brand will become. If you like what you just read from our blog, you’ll love the various informative courses, workshops, and events listed on our websites and social media. Whether you’re interested in personal development, health and wellness, bettering your relationships, or the overall improvement of your business, give us a call at 1 (800) 913-0222 to find out how Richard Martinez can help you break past your daily struggles and start soaring in success.