The Value of Building Your Personal Brand

I have helped numerous CEO’s/C-suite executives strategically build their personal brands.

Often the conversation begins with them sharing how busy they are, that they aren’t sure that the time required will be worthwhile and that they don’t have any interest in being an influencer on YouTube. That’s why I start with providing clarity on what I mean when I say ‘personal brand’ – what it is and what it isn’t.

Personal branding is the ongoing process of establishing a prescribed image or impression in the mind of others about an individual.

I love the reference to ‘ongoing’. Building an effective brand profile isn’t a ‘one and done’. Think about thought leaders in your industry. Now do a quick Google or Bing search. Typically, you will see numerous speaking opportunities, posts, articles and/or media interviews populate the screen. Continuing to amplify your brand profile and through different mediums reinforces that you are still credible and relevant.

The callout of personal branding as a ‘process’ is also key. Building a personal brand needs to be deliberate and intentional. It starts with having the right strategy (including objectives, target audience, vehicles and measurement), technology and resources so you can effectively build, analyze and refine your personal brand.

And for those who don't feel like they have the expertise or time, hiring a consultant (like me!) to help strategically build and execute your thought leadership platform alleviates the stress.